Jim Bright | University of Derby (original) (raw)

Papers by Jim Bright

Contemporary Theories of Career Development, 2018

Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling

Approaches to career education in schools continue to be dominated by a focus on school to work o... more Approaches to career education in schools continue to be dominated by a focus on school to work or further or higher education transition planning. It is argued that as a consequence of this, the emphasis is on identifying relatively stable and singular vocational goals or outcomes. Furthermore the theories, techniques and models that support this focus characterise the world as largely stable and predictable. It is argued that these assumptions about the world and careers are increasingly questionable and this calls into question the theories and models used to support the short-term vision of transition. The Chaos Theory of Careers is introduced as a dynamical systems theory alternative and contemporary model of career development that emphasises continual, uncertain and non-linear change, complexity of influences, and emergent fractal patterns in career. The application of this approach to career education is adumbrated challenging traditional notions of career planning and goal ...

Australian Journal of Career Development, 1998

This paper summarises the findings of an earlier study by Bright, Earl and Adams (1997) which loo... more This paper summarises the findings of an earlier study by Bright, Earl and Adams (1997) which looked at the impact of competency statements and intent statements included on resumes. In addition we present further analysis of the original data not previously reported which provides valuable insights into the screening processes employed by human resources managers and recruitment consultants in shortlisting graduate resumes.

Australian Journal of Career Development, 2014

A key postulate of the Chaos Theory of Careers is the significant influence of change, in general... more A key postulate of the Chaos Theory of Careers is the significant influence of change, in general, and unplanned change, in particular, on individuals’ career development. This qualitative research study investigated the perceived incident and impact of such change in the career paths of 55 high school graduates from the same class. Using a combination of interviews and surveys, the research examined the nature and extent of chance events perceived by the participants 18 months after having left school. Consistent with previous research with university students, it was found not only change in career development from plans at high school but that for 71% of the sample, such change was unplanned. Unplanned change was most substantial for those who entered the workforce while those who entered traineeships reported the least impact of unplanned change on their careers. A complex array of reasons for the changes experienced was mentioned. The results confirm this aspect of the Chaos Th...

Australian Journal of Career Development, 2014

The developments in the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) are outlined for the last decade since the ... more The developments in the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) are outlined for the last decade since the publication of the original formulation in this journal in 2003 (Pryor & Bright, 2003a). The history of the development of the CTC and the major theoretical constructs of the theory including context, complexity, change, chance, attractors, emergent patterns and fractals are described. The empirical evidence directly relevant to the CTC formulation and its efficacy as a counselling approach are reviewed. Practical tools to use with a CTC approach such as assessments, card sorts and counselling strategies are described. The impact of the CTC approach on practice and theory is discussed. Future applications of the CTC related to adaptability and cultural diversity are highlighted. It is concluded that the CTC provides the most coherent and comprehensive current account of career development behaviour that can incorporate both modernist and post-modernist perspectives. The last decade has d...

British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 2014

Arguments about online delivery of career development are too frequently couched in polarising te... more Arguments about online delivery of career development are too frequently couched in polarising terms setting traditional face-to-face guidance practice against online systems. The focus has been on the alleged dehumanising impact of technology and the speed, economy and efficiency of online systems. The possible synergies delivered by the appropriate integration of online systems into career development need exploring. The potential of eguidance, elearning, social media and online information and assessment systems has been insufficiently explored. The user experience has been overlooked, despite evidence that user-interface issues and usability are critical factors in the effectiveness of online systems. The application of artificial intelligence remains largely under-researched in career development. The potential for online systems to assist individuals respond to their chaotic careers has yet to be adequately addressed.

Economics: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications

This chapter introduces the Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright, 2003b, 2011) as applied to o... more This chapter introduces the Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright, 2003b, 2011) as applied to organizational behavior. The authors argue that organizations and the people within them can be usefully thought of as complex dynamical open systems – or strange attractors. From this perspective, organizational behavior can be understood in chaos terms such as attractors, fractal patterns, non- linearity, emergence, and phase shifts. Understanding organizations in dynamic terms provides a coherent picture of the inherent uncertainty and change that organizations face. This, in turn, has implications for management models that need to move from command, control, and predict, to facilitation and disruption of closed system processes. The difference between organizational anarchy and a principled chaos-based approach are highlighted. A model of organizational and personal creativity is presented and linked to concepts such as fractal behavior, career development and the re-thinking of trad...

The SAGE Handbook of Health Psychology

... Such mechanisms as cellular DNA repair have been proposed, and some studies have linked stres... more ... Such mechanisms as cellular DNA repair have been proposed, and some studies have linked stress and its neuroendocrine changes to poorer DNA-repair capabilities (eg, Flint, Baum, Chambers, & Jenkins, 2007; Gidron, Russ, Tissarchondou, & Warner, 2006). ...

Boston to participate in a "Thoughts on Theories" panel based on their contributions to that spec... more Boston to participate in a "Thoughts on Theories" panel based on their contributions to that special issue. All agreed that, if time permitted, it would have been interesting to apply their theories and approaches to a common case. Seven of the original authors and NCDA panelists have contributed to a brief case conceptualization that vividly illustrates the similarities and differences in their approaches to working with clients. Approaches included in this article include the Chaos Theory of Careers, Culture-Infused Career Counselling, Career Engagement, Happenstance Learning Theory, and Active Engagement through Metaphors.

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX180182 / BLDSC - British Library Doc... more Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX180182 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Contemporary Theories of Career Development, 2018

Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling

Approaches to career education in schools continue to be dominated by a focus on school to work o... more Approaches to career education in schools continue to be dominated by a focus on school to work or further or higher education transition planning. It is argued that as a consequence of this, the emphasis is on identifying relatively stable and singular vocational goals or outcomes. Furthermore the theories, techniques and models that support this focus characterise the world as largely stable and predictable. It is argued that these assumptions about the world and careers are increasingly questionable and this calls into question the theories and models used to support the short-term vision of transition. The Chaos Theory of Careers is introduced as a dynamical systems theory alternative and contemporary model of career development that emphasises continual, uncertain and non-linear change, complexity of influences, and emergent fractal patterns in career. The application of this approach to career education is adumbrated challenging traditional notions of career planning and goal ...

Australian Journal of Career Development, 1998

This paper summarises the findings of an earlier study by Bright, Earl and Adams (1997) which loo... more This paper summarises the findings of an earlier study by Bright, Earl and Adams (1997) which looked at the impact of competency statements and intent statements included on resumes. In addition we present further analysis of the original data not previously reported which provides valuable insights into the screening processes employed by human resources managers and recruitment consultants in shortlisting graduate resumes.

Australian Journal of Career Development, 2014

A key postulate of the Chaos Theory of Careers is the significant influence of change, in general... more A key postulate of the Chaos Theory of Careers is the significant influence of change, in general, and unplanned change, in particular, on individuals’ career development. This qualitative research study investigated the perceived incident and impact of such change in the career paths of 55 high school graduates from the same class. Using a combination of interviews and surveys, the research examined the nature and extent of chance events perceived by the participants 18 months after having left school. Consistent with previous research with university students, it was found not only change in career development from plans at high school but that for 71% of the sample, such change was unplanned. Unplanned change was most substantial for those who entered the workforce while those who entered traineeships reported the least impact of unplanned change on their careers. A complex array of reasons for the changes experienced was mentioned. The results confirm this aspect of the Chaos Th...

Australian Journal of Career Development, 2014

The developments in the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) are outlined for the last decade since the ... more The developments in the Chaos Theory of Careers (CTC) are outlined for the last decade since the publication of the original formulation in this journal in 2003 (Pryor & Bright, 2003a). The history of the development of the CTC and the major theoretical constructs of the theory including context, complexity, change, chance, attractors, emergent patterns and fractals are described. The empirical evidence directly relevant to the CTC formulation and its efficacy as a counselling approach are reviewed. Practical tools to use with a CTC approach such as assessments, card sorts and counselling strategies are described. The impact of the CTC approach on practice and theory is discussed. Future applications of the CTC related to adaptability and cultural diversity are highlighted. It is concluded that the CTC provides the most coherent and comprehensive current account of career development behaviour that can incorporate both modernist and post-modernist perspectives. The last decade has d...

British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 2014

Arguments about online delivery of career development are too frequently couched in polarising te... more Arguments about online delivery of career development are too frequently couched in polarising terms setting traditional face-to-face guidance practice against online systems. The focus has been on the alleged dehumanising impact of technology and the speed, economy and efficiency of online systems. The possible synergies delivered by the appropriate integration of online systems into career development need exploring. The potential of eguidance, elearning, social media and online information and assessment systems has been insufficiently explored. The user experience has been overlooked, despite evidence that user-interface issues and usability are critical factors in the effectiveness of online systems. The application of artificial intelligence remains largely under-researched in career development. The potential for online systems to assist individuals respond to their chaotic careers has yet to be adequately addressed.

Economics: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications

This chapter introduces the Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright, 2003b, 2011) as applied to o... more This chapter introduces the Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright, 2003b, 2011) as applied to organizational behavior. The authors argue that organizations and the people within them can be usefully thought of as complex dynamical open systems – or strange attractors. From this perspective, organizational behavior can be understood in chaos terms such as attractors, fractal patterns, non- linearity, emergence, and phase shifts. Understanding organizations in dynamic terms provides a coherent picture of the inherent uncertainty and change that organizations face. This, in turn, has implications for management models that need to move from command, control, and predict, to facilitation and disruption of closed system processes. The difference between organizational anarchy and a principled chaos-based approach are highlighted. A model of organizational and personal creativity is presented and linked to concepts such as fractal behavior, career development and the re-thinking of trad...

The SAGE Handbook of Health Psychology

... Such mechanisms as cellular DNA repair have been proposed, and some studies have linked stres... more ... Such mechanisms as cellular DNA repair have been proposed, and some studies have linked stress and its neuroendocrine changes to poorer DNA-repair capabilities (eg, Flint, Baum, Chambers, & Jenkins, 2007; Gidron, Russ, Tissarchondou, & Warner, 2006). ...

Boston to participate in a "Thoughts on Theories" panel based on their contributions to that spec... more Boston to participate in a "Thoughts on Theories" panel based on their contributions to that special issue. All agreed that, if time permitted, it would have been interesting to apply their theories and approaches to a common case. Seven of the original authors and NCDA panelists have contributed to a brief case conceptualization that vividly illustrates the similarities and differences in their approaches to working with clients. Approaches included in this article include the Chaos Theory of Careers, Culture-Infused Career Counselling, Career Engagement, Happenstance Learning Theory, and Active Engagement through Metaphors.

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX180182 / BLDSC - British Library Doc... more Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX180182 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo