Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover key strategies for retaining information technology (IT) professionals. Understanding the key strategies of IT professional retention will provide technology leaders with significant insight into how to improve IT retention. Methods. After a cogent review of the literature, the key themes that formed the conceptual framework of this study were identified as affective commitment, career orientation, employee engagement, job embeddedness, and work-life conflict. Key strategies emerged as technology leaders responded to relevant questions using the dynamic narrative approach, which allowed for individual and group participation. The study participants were experienced technology leaders. Validity was established through an expert panel of researchers, and data analysis included interrater reliability. Findings. This study identified key retention strategies related to each theme outlined in the conceptual framework: affective commitment, career orientation, employee engagement, job embeddedness, and work-life conflict. The key strategies identified were in the constructs of effective communication, collaboration, creating challenges and opportunities, training and mentoring, career advancement, accountability, understanding the systemic view, knowledge of organizational goals and objectives, team building, positive working environment, benefits and opportunities, flexibility, work-life balance, and trust. Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the importance of key strategies relevant to the retention of IT professionals. These key strategies represent an overarching approach that technology leaders can apply when addressing retention issues. The study revealed that it is important for technology leaders to apply effective strategies in regard to addressing IT retention issues of the organization. Recommendations. Technology leaders can increase retention of IT professionals by implementing key strategies identified herein. Continued research could explore ways in which to implement and operationalize the strategies identified in this study within various departments of the organization. The findings in this study offer technology leaders key retention strategies that benefit multiple stakeholders.