Espirit de Corps Among Army Corps of Engineer Executives: Job Satisfaction and Espirit after Ten Years of the SES — Some Unexpected Findings

Abstract

A major focal point in discussions of how the federal bureaucracy might best be improved relates to the job satisfaction of its senior managers. Their performance, it has been broadly assumed, will strongly influence the overall performance of governmental organizations. If they perform in an exemplary manner their example and competence will stimulate their subordi nates to do likewise. This study investigates this important area of public personnel management by looking at the results of the implementation of the Senior Executive Service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ten years after its creation in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.