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Locus of Control and the Assessment of Managerial Skills

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Lynda Spillane  and
Robert Spillane
Lynda Spillane
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Business, Queensland University of Technology
Robert Spillane
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University
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Abstract

There are considerable differences in perception of one's behaviour as externally controlled or as the result of personal choice (ie external or internal locus of control). This study assesses the influence of the external/internal locus of control on subordinates' perceptions of their managers' technical and people skills. Internal subordinates were found to criticise external managers for their technical skills, while external subordinates criticised their internal managers' people skills. The implications of these outcomes for the assessment of work performance are also discussed.

Keywords

• Locus of control• managerial style• managerial skills• performance assessment
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , March 1998 , pp. 37 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 1998

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