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Predicting the performance and innovativeness of scientists and engineers
1Department of Management, C. T. Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-6021, USA. keller@uh.edu
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|August 31, 2011
Summary
Individual traits like innovative orientation, internal locus of control, and self-esteem predict performance and innovation in scientists and engineers. Nonroutine tasks amplify these effects, highlighting the importance of context for knowledge worker productivity.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Management Science
- Innovation Studies
Background:
- Understanding predictors of performance and innovativeness in R&D is crucial for knowledge worker productivity.
- An interactionist framework suggests individual characteristics and task environment jointly influence outcomes.
- Previous research has not fully explored the longitudinal impact of specific individual traits on both performance and innovation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal predictive power of four individual characteristics on performance and innovativeness.
- To examine the moderating role of team-level nonroutine tasks on these relationships.
- To test hypotheses derived from an interactionist framework for knowledge workers.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 644 scientists and engineers across 5 R&D organizations.
- Measured individual characteristics (innovative orientation, locus of control, self-esteem) and task environment.
- Assessed performance via supervisory ratings and innovation via patents and publications over 1 and 5 years.
Main Results:
- Innovative orientation predicted performance ratings and innovation (patents, publications) at both 1 and 5 years.
- Internal locus of control and self-esteem also predicted innovation and performance.
- Nonroutine tasks strengthened the link between innovative orientation and performance/innovation.
Conclusions:
- Individual traits are significant longitudinal predictors of R&D performance and innovativeness.
- The task environment, specifically nonroutine tasks, plays a crucial moderating role.
- Findings support an interactionist framework for understanding knowledge worker productivity and innovation.
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