The role of locus of control and achievement motivation in the work performance of black managers

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to predict the work performance of Black managers by using three measures of Locus of Control and five measures of Achievement Motivation. Work performance was assessed by superiors with the aid of the Performance Appraisal Questionnaire of Schepers (1994) which yields three scores, viz, Work Performance, Creativity/Initiative and Management Skills. The sample comprised 102 Black male employees in supervisory and more senior positions in a diversified and geographically dispersed chemical company. In analysing the data, the three sets of measures were intercorrelated and subjected to a factor analysis. Three factors were identified; amongst others a factor representing work performance. A composite score was accordingly computed which served as the criterion measure in a regression analysis. Furthermore/ a canonical correlation procedure was used to maximise the correlation between the predictor variables and the dependent variables. Two statistically significant canonical correlations were obtained. It was found that both the Locus of Control Inventory and the Achievement Motivation Questionnaire can be used as predictors of work performance as assessed by means of the Performance Appraisal Questionnaire (PA). Opsomming Die primêre doelwit van hierdie studie was om die werkverrigting van Swart bestuurders te voorspel deur gebruik te maak van drie metings van Lokus van Beheer en vyf metings van Prestasiemotivering. Werkverrigting is deur bogeskiktes met behulp van die Prestasiebeoordelingsvraelys van Schepers (1994) beoordeel, wat drie tellings lewer, naamlik Werkverigting, Inisiatief/Kreatiwiteit en Bestuursvaardighede. Die steekproef het uit 102 Swart manlike werknemers in toesighoudende en meer senior posisies in 'n gediversifiseerde en geografies verspreide chemiese maatskappy bestaan. In die ontleding van die data is die drie stelle metings geïterkorreleer en aan 'n faktorontleding onderwerp. Drie faktore is geidentifiseer onder andere, 'n faktor wat werkverigting verteenwoordig. Gevolglik is 'n saamgestelde telling bereken wat as kriteriummeting in 'n regressieontleding gedien het. Verder is 'n kanoniese korrelasieprosedure aangewend om die korrelasie tussen die voorspellerveranderiikes en die afhanklike veranderlikes te maksimeer. Twee statisties beduidende kanoniese korrelasies is verkry. Dit is bevind dat sowel die Lokus van Beheer-vraelys as die Prestasie-motiveringsvraclys as voorspellers van werkverrigting, soos beoordeel deur middel van die Prestasiebeoordelingsvraelys, gebruik kan word.

Keywords

• Locus of control
• Achievement motivation
• Work performance
• Black managers