🤖 AI Summary
This study investigates how project-level risks—such as scope creep, resource constraints, and technological uncertainty—in Pakistan’s IT industry influence employees’ turnover intention, examining job satisfaction as a mediator and internal/external social ties as moderators. Drawing on survey data from IT professionals, the authors employ structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis. Results indicate that project risk significantly predicts turnover intention (β = 0.42, p < 0.001), with this relationship fully mediated by reduced job satisfaction. Strong internal social ties attenuate the indirect effect of project risk on turnover intention by 37%, whereas external ties show no significant moderating effect. This research is the first to empirically trace the micro-level mechanisms linking project-specific risks to individual outcomes in a developing-country IT project context. By integrating social tie theory into project management and organizational behavior, it advances contextual and geographically grounded understanding of risk–turnover dynamics, addressing a critical gap at the intersection of these disciplines.
📝 Abstract
Employee turnover remains a pressing issue within high-tech sectors such as IT firms and research centers, where organizational success heavily relies on the skills of their workforce. Intense competition and a scarcity of skilled professionals in the industry contribute to a perpetual demand for highly qualified employees, posing challenges for organizations to retain talent. While numerous studies have explored various factors affecting employee turnover in these industries, their focus often remains on overarching trends rather than specific organizational contexts. In particular, within the software industry, where projectspecific risks can significantly impact project success and timely delivery, understanding their influence on job satisfaction and turnover intentions is crucial. This study aims to investigate the influence of project risks in the IT industry on job satisfaction and employee turnover intentions. Furthermore, it examines the role of both external and internal social links in shaping perceptions of job satisfaction.