Abstract:
Sri Lanka is a developing nation with a lower-middle income. Among main sources of
income for Sri Lanka Information Technology related business plays a major role in the
economy. IT can be considered as a separate industry in Sri Lanka. There are several
local and international IT companies currently doing operations in the country. The
current research is conducted in IT firms in Sri Lanka which contributs for sustainable
development of the economy.
The purpose of this study is to investigate individual values, organizational values and
relationship between these two. Furthermore the study attempt to identify the business
strategies and their relation to individual and organizational values. Previous researchers
have explored values, value based cultures and business strategies for different
industries in different countries. The knowledge and understanding that need to carry out
the current study was gathered from previous researches and analyzing the Sri Lankan
IT firms in terms of their success and failures.
The survey has been carried out base on 11 IT firms in Sri Lanka. 224 employees in IT
firms fall into the survey sample. Data have been collected by the distribution of
questionnaire among IT employees in the IT firms. The results of the research indicate a
positive relationship between employees’ individual values and organizational values.
Based on the analysis most important and least important individual and organizational
values also identified. Also two major business strategies were identified in IT firms in
Sri Lanka. With reference to these two strategies most influential and least influential
individual and organizational values also identified separately.
The findings will benefit companies when defining strategic human resource
management in the IT industry Sri Lanka. In addition the findings will help employees
to asses their values and select correct employer. It is very important to have best-fit
among employee values and employer values to increase the employability.