ABSTRACT: The research reported here is part of an ongoing longitudinal study of career maturation and progression involving a national sample of information system (I/S) professionals. The present study describes the job characteristic preferences and self-described personal attributes and work traits (dependent variables) of persons entering I/S careers with three levels of demonstrated academic achievement (independent variable). A second analysis combined the respondents' sex and level of achievement to create a gender-sensitive independent variable. While high achievers enter the workplace with distinguishing work-related profiles, the results suggest that the commonalities among high-achieving females and males vastly overshadow their differences. The results are discussed in terms of recruitment, socialization, and commitment, motivation and performance, and career progression.
Key words and phrases: career progression, gender or sex differences, high performing personnel, human resource management, information systems professionals, managing high achievers, personnel management