Schein Anchors

Edgar Schein has identified anchors, personal value clusters that may be satisfied or frustrated with work.

When a particular combination of these personal values clusters (technical-functional competence, managerial competence, security-stability, creativity, and autonomy-independence) is held by the worker and characteristically offered by the organization, that person is anchored in that job, organization or industry.

Most people have two or three value clusters that are important to them. If an organization satisfied two out of three, that is considered a stable match. For example, Karim is a recent MBA graduate.

He wants to use his human resources degree. His father was laid off when his organization downsized last year, and he never wants to have to deal with that type of uncertainty. Schein would describe Karim’s anchors as technical competence and security-stability.

His current job choices are marketing on a commission basis for a new credit card company or recruiting for an established and growing-oriented computer firm.

Which job should Karim take?

Based on his combination of value clusters, at this time the recruiting job appears to better match with Karim’s preferences.