MY SYSTEM of CAREER INFLUENCES MSCI (Adult) Facilitator's Guide

Mary McMahon, Mark Watson, Wendy Patton




Career development in the 21st century presents many challenges and opportunities to adults. They must now navigate a complex and rapidly changing world of work influenced by technology, globalisation and fluctuating economic conditions.

The My System of Career Influences (MSCI) (Adult) is a qualitative career assessment tool based on the constructivist theory from cognitive psychology. Acknowledged as the third wave in cognitive science after psychoanalysis and behaviourism, constructivism emphasises the individual in the assessment and counselling process. Individuals actively participate in the construction of their own reality and are encouraged to respond to and deal with both anticipated and unanticipated events that influence their careers.

The tool comprises a facilitator guide and participant workbooks. The guide describes the Systems Theory Framework of career development that provides the theoretical background to the MSCI as well as a step-by-step user guide to conducting the MSCI (Adult) process with individuals and groups. Each participant uses the accompanying  MSCI (Adult) Workbook (sold separately) which they can complete and keep for later reference.

With its attention to an holistic and storied approach to career intervention My System of Career Influences (MSCI) (Adult) is an essential resource for all career practitioners working with adults in today's workplaces.

About the Author

Dr Mary McMahon is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at The University of Queensland, Australia. Her particular interests are the career development of children and adolescents, and the application of constructivist approaches to career counselling and assessment. She is especially interested in qualitative career assessment. Mary is the author of a number of books, book chapters, and refereed journal articles.

Mark Watson is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa. He specialises in career, school and adolescent psychology and researches lifespan career development, with a specific focus on assessment and cross-cultural issues. He publishes in international and national journals, is the author of book chapters and is co-editor of several books. He is currently on the editorial advisory boards of several international career development journals.

Professor Wendy Patton is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education at Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She has published extensively in the area of career development, including articles, book chapters, conference papers, and a number of co-authored and co-edited books. She is currently on the editorial advisory boards of a number of national and international career development journals and the Series Editor of the Career Development Series with Sense Publishers.

Table of Contents

About the Authors

Acknowledgements

SECTION ONE — Career Development and Assessment

Adult Career Development

Career Assessment

The Influence of Constructivism

Qualitative Career Assessment

Incorporating Qualitative Assessment into Career Counselling

Qualitative Career Assessment as a Learning Process

Developing Qualitative Career Assessment Processes


SECTION TWO — MSCI (Adult) Facilitator’s Guide

My System of Career Influences (MSCI)

Background

Theoretical Foundation

Development of the MSCI

Using the MSCI (Adult)

Who should complete the MSCI (Adult)?

In what settings may it be used?

Materials

The MSCI (Adult) Reflection Process

Using This Facilitator’s Guide

Using the MSCI (Adult) With Individuals

Using the MSCI (Adult) in Group Settings

Cultural Considerations

MSCI (Adult) Workbook Guide

Supplementary Career Learning Processes

Case Studies

Thinking Systemically: Case Study 1 — Tom

The Language of Career Development: Case Study 2 — Margie

Understanding Lifelong Career Development: Case Study 3 — Peter

Supplementary Learning Activities

Conclusion


References

Appendix

The Process of Trialling the MSCI

The Australian Trial

The South African Trial

The British Trial