Dexterity and its development

This conceptual framework for understanding the career development process defines career development as a continuous process of matching individual characteristics with organizational role requirements.Responsibility for achieving effective matching rests both with individuals and with organizations.The relative emphasis on individual efforts and organizational efforts over different phases of the career development process as a function of changing individual needs and role requirements.Summaries of research projects undertaken in the Professional Development Research Program are included in this report and present the 'evolution of a self-development/career planning technique incorporating these processes: (1) structured forecasting, by which individuals can identify potential gaps between present skills and role requirements and probable future role requirements, (2) goal setting and goal clarification, (3) strategy and action planning, (4) reality-testing and public commitment, and (5) identifying and using a continuous support system ( "relevant others") in the implementation of personal plans.