Birth Order and Managerial Achievement: Another Look

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference in the probability of successful managerial achievement in the petro-chemical manufacturing industry between only-born, early-born and later-born managers. Respondents included 440 male managers. Of the subjects, 181 were classified as first-line managers, 156 as middle managers, and 103 were in top management.

Only-born top managers were found to be significantly over-represented when compared to other ordinal positions. Only-born first-line managers were under-represented. Only-born middle managers at all levels of management were found to be as statistically expected. No predicted birth-order effects were found in any family ordinal position other than only-borns. The findings suggested that the only born has a proportionally better chance of reaching top management in the petro-chemical manufacturing industry than any other birth order. The results also seem to indicate that while many similarities appear to exist in only a first born, significant differences also seem to be present.