The emergence of person-centred discourse based
around notions of 'personal development planning- and 'work'life
balance' has taken hold in education and the workplace in recent
years. This paper examines this discourse with regard to recent
developments in higher education as well as the inter-related issue of
work-life balance in occupational careers. In both cases there have
been national and trans-national policy initiatives directed towards
improving both personal opportunities and competitive advantage in
a global knowledge-based economy. However, despite an increasing
concern with looking outward at this globalised educational and
employment marketplace, there is something of a paradox in
encouraging people to look inward at themselves in order to become
more self-determined. This apparent paradox is considered from a
discourse analytic perspective in terms of the ideological effects of an
increasing concern with the personal world. Specifically, it is argued
that there are tensions that emerge from a concern with an innerdirected
process of self-reflection that dissolve any engagement with
wider political issues that impact upon educational and career
development.
[1] S. Wilson-Medhurst "Supporting student development using reflective
writing." Investigations in University Teaching and Learning, 2 (2),
pp.89-92, 2005.
[2] S. Wilson-Medhurst "Using assessment to support employability
awareness and development." Investigations in University Teaching and
Learning, 3 (1), pp.72-79, 2005.
[3] B.H. Gottlieb, E.K. Kelloway, and E.J. Barham. Flexible work
arrangements: managing the work-family boundary Wiley, 1998
[4] J. Gershuny. Changing times: work and leisure in post- industrial
society Oxford University Press, 2000.
[5] R. Dearing R. Higher Education in the Learning Society - The Report of
the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education. Middlesex,
NCIHE Publications. 1997
[6] D.A. Gough, D. Kiwan, K. Sutcliffe, D. Simpson, D and N. Houghton.
A systematic map and synthesis review of the effectiveness of personal
development planning for improving student learning. London: EPPICentre,
Social Science Research Unit. 2003 (p..2)
[7] T. Brabazon. The University of Google: education in the (post)
information age. Ashgate. 2007
[8] B. Lambier, B. and S. Ramaekers. "The Limits of ÔÇÿBlackboard- are the
Limits of My World: on the changing concepts of the university and its
students" E-Learning, 3: 544-551, 2006
[9] S. Clegg and S. Bradley "Models of Personal Development Planning;
practice and processes" British Educational Research Journal, 32 (1):
57-76, 2006
[10] J. Moir ,C. Di Domenico, P. Sutton, & S.Vertigans. Personal
Development Planning in Sociology & Social Science: The Scottish
Higher Education Context. Higher Education Academy, Centre for
Sociology, Anthropology & Politics, 2007 Available: http://www.csap.
bham.ac.uk/resources/project_reports/findings/showfinding.htm?id=
40/S/06
[11] D. Perrons, C. Fagan, L. McDowell, K. Ray and K. Ward "Work, Life
and Time in the New Economy", Time and Society 14(1): 51-64, 2005.
[12] P. Voydanoff . "Toward a conceptualization of perceived work-family
fit and balance: A demands and resources approach." Journal of
Marriage and Family, 67, 822-836. 2005
[13] S. Liff, and I. Cameron. "Changing equality cultures to move beyond
ÔÇÿwomen-s problems-." Gender, Work & Organization, 4,1, 35-46. 1997
[14] A. Sinclair. A. "Women within diversity: risks and possibilities."
Women in Management Review, 15, 5/6, 237-45. 2000.
[15] A. Lorbiecki and G. Jack.G. "Critical turns in the evolution of diversity
management." British Journal of Management , 11, 1, 17-31, 2000.
[16] A. Sinclair. A. "Women within diversity: risks and possibilities."
Women in Management Review, 15, 5/6, 237-45. 2000.
[17] F. Linnehan F. and A. Konrad, "Diluting diversity: implications for
intergroup equality in organizations." Journal of Management Inquiry,
8,4, 399-414., 1999.
[18] M. Wetherell, H. Stiven, H. and J. Potter. "Unequal egalitarianism: a
preliminary study of discourses concerning gender and employment
opportunities." British Journal of Social Psychology, 26, 59-71, 1987.
[19] S. Meriläinen. "Discourses of equality and difference in bank managers-
talk." The Finnish Journal of Business Economics, 3, 416-32, 2000.
[20] S.C.E Riley "Constructions of equality and discrimination in
professional men-s talk." British Journal of Social Psychology, 41, 443-
61, 2002.
[21] J. Smithson and E.H. Stokoe "Discourses of Work-Life Balance:
Negotiating ÔÇÿGender-blind- Terms in Organizations." Gender, Work and
Organization. 12, 2, 148-167, 2005.
[1] S. Wilson-Medhurst "Supporting student development using reflective
writing." Investigations in University Teaching and Learning, 2 (2),
pp.89-92, 2005.
[2] S. Wilson-Medhurst "Using assessment to support employability
awareness and development." Investigations in University Teaching and
Learning, 3 (1), pp.72-79, 2005.
[3] B.H. Gottlieb, E.K. Kelloway, and E.J. Barham. Flexible work
arrangements: managing the work-family boundary Wiley, 1998
[4] J. Gershuny. Changing times: work and leisure in post- industrial
society Oxford University Press, 2000.
[5] R. Dearing R. Higher Education in the Learning Society - The Report of
the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education. Middlesex,
NCIHE Publications. 1997
[6] D.A. Gough, D. Kiwan, K. Sutcliffe, D. Simpson, D and N. Houghton.
A systematic map and synthesis review of the effectiveness of personal
development planning for improving student learning. London: EPPICentre,
Social Science Research Unit. 2003 (p..2)
[7] T. Brabazon. The University of Google: education in the (post)
information age. Ashgate. 2007
[8] B. Lambier, B. and S. Ramaekers. "The Limits of ÔÇÿBlackboard- are the
Limits of My World: on the changing concepts of the university and its
students" E-Learning, 3: 544-551, 2006
[9] S. Clegg and S. Bradley "Models of Personal Development Planning;
practice and processes" British Educational Research Journal, 32 (1):
57-76, 2006
[10] J. Moir ,C. Di Domenico, P. Sutton, & S.Vertigans. Personal
Development Planning in Sociology & Social Science: The Scottish
Higher Education Context. Higher Education Academy, Centre for
Sociology, Anthropology & Politics, 2007 Available: http://www.csap.
bham.ac.uk/resources/project_reports/findings/showfinding.htm?id=
40/S/06
[11] D. Perrons, C. Fagan, L. McDowell, K. Ray and K. Ward "Work, Life
and Time in the New Economy", Time and Society 14(1): 51-64, 2005.
[12] P. Voydanoff . "Toward a conceptualization of perceived work-family
fit and balance: A demands and resources approach." Journal of
Marriage and Family, 67, 822-836. 2005
[13] S. Liff, and I. Cameron. "Changing equality cultures to move beyond
ÔÇÿwomen-s problems-." Gender, Work & Organization, 4,1, 35-46. 1997
[14] A. Sinclair. A. "Women within diversity: risks and possibilities."
Women in Management Review, 15, 5/6, 237-45. 2000.
[15] A. Lorbiecki and G. Jack.G. "Critical turns in the evolution of diversity
management." British Journal of Management , 11, 1, 17-31, 2000.
[16] A. Sinclair. A. "Women within diversity: risks and possibilities."
Women in Management Review, 15, 5/6, 237-45. 2000.
[17] F. Linnehan F. and A. Konrad, "Diluting diversity: implications for
intergroup equality in organizations." Journal of Management Inquiry,
8,4, 399-414., 1999.
[18] M. Wetherell, H. Stiven, H. and J. Potter. "Unequal egalitarianism: a
preliminary study of discourses concerning gender and employment
opportunities." British Journal of Social Psychology, 26, 59-71, 1987.
[19] S. Meriläinen. "Discourses of equality and difference in bank managers-
talk." The Finnish Journal of Business Economics, 3, 416-32, 2000.
[20] S.C.E Riley "Constructions of equality and discrimination in
professional men-s talk." British Journal of Social Psychology, 41, 443-
61, 2002.
[21] J. Smithson and E.H. Stokoe "Discourses of Work-Life Balance:
Negotiating ÔÇÿGender-blind- Terms in Organizations." Gender, Work and
Organization. 12, 2, 148-167, 2005.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:54487", author = "James Moir", title = "Developing the Personal, Dissolving the Political", abstract = "The emergence of person-centred discourse based
around notions of 'personal development planning- and 'work'life
balance' has taken hold in education and the workplace in recent
years. This paper examines this discourse with regard to recent
developments in higher education as well as the inter-related issue of
work-life balance in occupational careers. In both cases there have
been national and trans-national policy initiatives directed towards
improving both personal opportunities and competitive advantage in
a global knowledge-based economy. However, despite an increasing
concern with looking outward at this globalised educational and
employment marketplace, there is something of a paradox in
encouraging people to look inward at themselves in order to become
more self-determined. This apparent paradox is considered from a
discourse analytic perspective in terms of the ideological effects of an
increasing concern with the personal world. Specifically, it is argued
that there are tensions that emerge from a concern with an innerdirected
process of self-reflection that dissolve any engagement with
wider political issues that impact upon educational and career
development.", keywords = "Personal development planning, higher education,
work-life balance, career.", volume = "2", number = "5", pages = "489-5", }
