How do Russian companies’ top managers shape their job expectations?

Abstract

The article is devoted to the dynamics of the formation of psychological contracts of a separate and hard-to-reach category of employees — top managers of organizations. The theory of psychological contracts is presented as a dynamic construct that evolves and changes over time. The authors consider the dynamics of the PC as the main tool for forming and changing the expectations of top managers from their employers. Empirical data were obtained by conducting in-depth interviews with managers: the target sample was 30 respondents. One of the most important confirmed results of the study is that the PC of top managers undergoes minor changes over time, forming a “core” idea or career model that is embedded in all subsequent expectations from the employer. The dynamics of the formation and development of psychological contracts, namely, the study of changes in the content of the PC of top managers over time is a new material for further research in the field of motivation, reasons for changing jobs and career tracks of senior managers.