Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore the process in which the software engineering students construct their professional identities. Design/methodology/approach -The study followed the qualitative method using grounded theory methodology to examine the process of identity construction. Data were collected from final year software engineering students in an iterative manner. Findings -Based on the present study, the study argues that entry-level identities of students are modified and adjusted in response to their experience of identity violations over the course of their academic program. These violations were caused by their unmet expectations from the academic program. The magnitude of these violations is influenced by their perceived value derived from the training they were receiving. Research limitations/implications -This paper explains the process of "identity morphing" as a mechanism by which students resolve the conflict/violation of their identities. The emergence and adaptation of different types of identities were examined. This study can be extended to the employees of IT organizations to draw a holistic picture. Practical implications -The understanding of identity morphing process might enable organizations to enrich their interaction with their employees and thus provide avenues to improve their work-related outcomes. Originality/value -Previous studies have explored professional identity construction among individuals. However, how software professionals construct their professional identity, during their education years, is relatively unexplored. The present study asserts that professional identities are formed among the students even before they join the organization.

Purpose The paper explores the importance of mobile technology to enable diffusion of agriculture-related knowledge among farmers in India. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the current socio-economic factors and challenges that impact the feasibility of m-governance project. The authors intend to explore different behavioral aspects of farmers, specifically their information seeking behavior to understand their communication ecosystem. Design/methodology/approach The authors have used multiple methods to analyze the significance of m-governance in current social dynamics. To achieve in depth understanding of farmer’s attitudes and opinion, the authors have conducted semi-structured interviews with farmers. The authors have also applied experimental observations to evaluate the actual effectiveness of information dissemination and the social dynamics behind the process. The secondary/archival data was also collected from the government offices and non-governmental organizations. Findings Findings explore the pattern of mobile usage among the farmers which could lead to interesting implications for the design and implementation of future m-governance projects. The research has also drawn some interesting implication on the feasibility of m-governance project. Research limitations/implications Because the findings are co-related with the prevalent socio-cultural dynamics, testing the findings in different context might add value to the proposed theory and its implications. Originality/value Considering the need and significance of agriculture-based reforms in rural India, present study offers guidance in devising an efficient communication medium among farmers and government. The authors infer from our field observations that the communication platform is vital for successfully reaching farmers for their overall welfare. The present work is based on findings which are drawn from the ground reality which helps in explicating inferences which are useful for implementation purpose.

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Technology is an integral part of the work life of any information technology (IT) professional. However, the influence of technology on career related outcomes of IT professionals is at best limited. Using the P-E fit perspective, the present study investigated the implications of the perceived fit/ misfit between the expected and the experienced career growth and work-life balance from the technology the IT professionals are working in on their career satisfaction. Based on response surface methodology and polynomial regression analysis of the data collected from 286 IT professionals, the study found that not only the fit, but also the misfit between expected and experienced technology led career growth and work-life balance is important in explaining career satisfaction. Implications of the study for both research and practice were discussed.

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