Investigating the Native Meta-competencies of Protean Agents in Iran and a Comparison with Entrepreneurs

Protean career orientation is a type of career path has emerged in the transition from the traditional to the contemporary world. This orientation has provided the basis for the formation of flexible personalities, known as the two main features of 'self-management' and ' value-driven. The influence t of culture on the characteristics of individuals with protean orientations in different societies has been underestimated. On the other hand, in respect of the conceptual and functional affinities of protean career orientations and the entrepreneurship, it is needed to determine the conceptual distinctions between these two paths. The purpose of this study was to provide the answers for the below questions. Question 1: What are the characteristics of people with protean career orientation in Iran and question 2: What is the difference between the concept of protean career path and the concept of entrepreneurship?

To answer the first question, the characteristics of individuals with the protean career path were evaluated using the qualitative approach and the grounded theory analysis method.

Three main features and eleven sub-features were obtained for individuals with protean occupational orientation; two of them were consistent with those mentioned in protean career path theory.

The results of this study indicate that the specific characteristics of the Iranian society have led to the emergence of special abilities in people with protean career path. The results of a comparative investigation between entrepreneurs and people with protean career orientations also show that, despite the similarities between them, there are fundamental differences in the level of conceptual paradigm and behavioral strategies between the protean career path and entrepreneurship.