The differential e fects of a management by' objectives (MBO) program on the work satisfaction of development and research employee groups were examined. Analyses indicated that these two groups differed in perceptions of their respective work group climates and that facets of MBO explained significantly different amounts of variance of the groups' work satisfaction. Implications and suggestions for accommodating MBO for use with development and research personnel are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Arvey, R. D., & Dewhirst, H. D.Goal setting attributes, personality variables, and job satisfaction. Journal of Vocational Behavior1976, 9, 179-189.
2.
Badawy, M. K.Selected research on scientists and engineers in industry: A review and assessment. Academa' of Management Journal1970, 13, 210-212.
3.
Badawy, M. K.Applying management by objectives to R&D labs. Research Management1976, 19, 35-40.
4.
Badawy, M. K.One more time: How to motivate your engineers. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management1978, 25, 37-42.
5.
Campbell, J. P. & Beatty, E. E.Organizational climate: Its measurement and relationship to work group performance. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C., 1971.
6.
Dewhirst, H. D. & Avery, R. D. Accommodating management by objectives to research and development management (RMI Report A, Working Paper No. 26). Unpublished manuscript, University of Tennessee, 1976.
7.
Dewhirst, H. D., Arvey, R. D., & Brown, E. M.Satisfaction and performance in research and development tasks as related to information accessibility. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management1978, 25, 58-63.
8.
Dipboye, R. L., Zultowski, W. H., Dewhirst, H. D., & Arvey, R. D.Self-esteem as a moderator of the relationship between scientific interests and the job satisfaction of physicists and engineers. Journal of Applied PsYcholog1978, 63, 289-294.
9.
Gerstl, J. E., & Hutton, S. P.Engineers: The anatomy of a profession: A stud} of mechanical engineers in Britain. London: Tavistock, 1966.
10.
Gorsuch, R. L.Factor analysis. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 1974.
11.
Gouldner, H., & Ritti, R. R.Professionalism and career immobility. American Journal of Sociologj1967, 72, 489-502.
12.
Haitovsky, Y.Multicollinearity in regression analysis: A comment. Review of Economics and Statistics1969, 51, 486-489.
13.
High technology recruitment index. Manpower Comments: Scientific-Engineering-TechnicalJuly, 1980, p. 1-1
14.
Hollman, R. W.Supportive organizational climate and managerial assessment of MBO effectiveness. A cademy of Management Journal1976, 19, 560-576.
15.
Ivancevich, J. M.Changes in performance in a management-by-objectives program. Administrative Science Quarter/v. 1974, 19, 563-574.
16.
Ivancevich, J. M.Effects of goal setting on performance and job satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psivchologv1976, 61, 605-612.
17.
Kerr, S., Von Glinow, M., & Schriesheim, J.Issues in the study of 'professionals' in organization: The case of scientists and enginneers. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance1977, 18, 329-345.
18.
Latham, G. P., Mitchell, J. R., & Dossett, D. L.Importance of participative goal setting and anticipated rewards on goal difficulty and job performance. Journal of Applied Psy chology1978, 63, 163-171.
19.
Latham, G. P., & Yukl, G. A.A review of the research on the application of goal setting in organizations. Academy of Management Journal1975, 18, 824-845.
20.
Locke, E. A.The nature and causes ofjob satisfaction. In M. D. Dunnette (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psy'chology. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.
21.
Lofquist, L. H., & Dawis, R. V.Adjustment to work: A psychological view of man'sproblems in a work-oriented soc iety. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1969.
22.
McCarrey, M. W. & Edwards, S. A.Organizational climate conditions for effective research scientist role performance. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance1973, 9, 439-459.
23.
McConkie, M. L.A clarification of the goal setting and appraisal processes in MBO. Academy of Management Review1979, 4, 29-40.
24.
Miles, R. H.How job conflicts and ambiguity effect R&D professionals. Research Management, 1975, 18, 32-37.
25.
National Science Foundation. National patterns of R&D resources: Funds and manpower in the U.S., 1953-1976. Washington, D.C.: Author, 1976.
26.
Odiorne, G.How to succeed in MBO goal setting. Personal Journal1978, 78, 427-451.
27.
Pelz, D.C., & Andrews, T. M.Scientists in organizations. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, 1976.
28.
Quick, J. C.Dyadic goal setting and role stress: A field study. Academy of Management Journal1979, 22, 241-252.
29.
Ritti, R. R.Work goals of scientists and engineers. Industrial Relations1968, 8, 118-131.
30.
Rogers, W. J., Neubert, S. T., & Hulswit, H. T.How one R&D department increased productivity. Research Management1974, 17, 17-22.
31.
Snyder, C. A., & Mossholder, K. W.Application of MBO in service organizations: Potential problem areas. Proceedings of the Midwest Academy of ManagementCincinnati, March, 1980.
32.
Steers, R. M., & Porter, L. W.The role of task-goal attributes in employee performance. Psychological Bulletin1974, 81, 434-452.
33.
Tolchinsky, P. D., & King, D. C.Do goals mediate the effects of incentives on performance?A cademy of Management Review1980, 5, 455-467.
34.
Veldman, D. J.Fortran programming in the behavioral sciences. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1967.
35.
Winer, B. S.Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971.
