Supervisors in R&D Laboratories: Using Technical, People, and Administrative Skills Effectively

Abstract

A study of 2172 technical professionals finds that the more their supervisors possess technical, but in particular, people and administrative skills, the more their work environment is stimulating. Moreover, the more their work environment is stimulating, the greater their performance and job satisfaction. In addition, the study finds that the more their work environment is stimulating, the less the technical and people skills of their supervisors help their performance and job satisfaction, the less the administrative skills of their supervisors hurt their performance, and the more the administrative skills of their supervisors help their job satisfaction. The implications of the findings for helping R&D supervisors use technical, people, and administrative skills effectively to increase the performance and job satisfaction of their subordinates are discussed.