Contingent Supervisory Behavior: A Practical Predictor of Performance

In: Group & organization management: an international journal, Band 21, Heft 4, S. 404-413

Abstract

Effective supervisory behavior is conceptualized and examined in terms of operant psychology. A total of 365 subordinates rated 82 first-line supervisors on traditional and operant leader behaviors. Analyses showed that monitoring and consequence behaviors made significant contributions to the prediction of the supervisors' performance ratings over that associated with initiating structure and consideration alone. The results support the generality of an operant model of supervision, and the practicality of rating operant-type behaviors to predict supervisory performance without the intrusion of direct observation.