'n Biografiese en psigologiese profiel van 'n aantal Suid-Afrikaanse bestuurders
Abstract
The identification of the management relevant characteristics of managers that contribute to managerial success is a topic which has been submitted to intensive research, especially in the past decade. In South Africa, however, scientific research on this topic is limited. Information on the psychological and biographical
characteristics of successful managers can make a valuable contribution towards the recruitment, identification, selection and training of suitable management potential. This study is directed towards the investigation of the biographical background and psychological characteristics of top managers in South Africa, who, for the purpose of this study, are regarded as successful managers. The object of this study is the development of a biographical and psychological profile of' the successful South African manager. The required information was obtained by means of the application of a biographical and contemporary information questionnaire and a psychological evaluation technique - the Self-Description In this study the characteristics of a sample consisting of top managers (successful managers) are compared with the characteristics of two other samples - one consisting of middle managers and the other of individuals in first level management positions. The managers in the three experimental groups are employed by a wide variety of South African organisations, totalling 118. It has been established that there is statistically no significant difference between the top and the middle management groups, except in respect of a few variables, such as the fact that the top management group is significantly older than the middle, group and that the number of instances where the individual's period of employment with his firm is two years or less, is significantly greater in the middle management group than in the top group. However, statistically the top management group, and to a lesser extent also the middle management group, differ significantly' from first-level managers in respect of a great variety of biographical and psychological variables. The results indicate differences between these groups in regard to parental environment, leadership and participation in social, welfare and other organisations; training; academical qualifications; academic achievement; job experience; training of wives, and time devoted to physical exercise. In regard to the measured psychological variables, the top and/or middle management groups fared statistically significantly better than first level managers on the scales of the Self-Description Inventory which measure abilities (supervisory ability and initiative), personality traits (decisiveness and self-assurance) and motivating factors (need for self-actualisation and for occupational achievement and the lack of the need for job security). A biographical and psychological profile of the successful South African manager was compiled on the basis of that information. On the strength of the results obtained it was concluded that in comparison to managers in the middle group, those in the top group probably reached top managerial positions only because they are generally older than the middle managers and because more managers in the middle group have been in the service of their various employers for only two years or less. Due to the many statistically significant differences between the top and middle management groups on the one hand and the first level management group on the other, and since these results corresponded to such a large extent with those of researchers overseas, the conclusion was drawn that there are managerial relevant psychological traits and biographical characteristics which are related to successful leadership behaviour in formal organisations.