Porter, L. W. (1961). A study of perceived need satisfactions in bottom and middle management jobs. Journal of Applied Psychology 45:1–10.
Comments: The Management Position Questionnaire (MPQ) contains 15 management position characteristics that relate to need satisfaction. Overall, these items correspond to Maslow’s need hierarchy: security, social, esteem, autonomy, and self-actualization. No items related to physiological needs were included, and two other items related to pay and to the feeling of being-in-the-know were added. The MPQ examines the differences among needs within various levels of management. Several instruments grew out of the MPQ.
Sample: The original sample consisted of 64 bottom-level (lowest level of management in an organization) and 75 middle-level (above the first level of supervision) managers from three organizations. A description of the three or- ganizations is provided.
Data Analysis: Data reflecting the differences between perceived amount of present fulfillment of needs and the amount of fulfillment believed should be available are reported for both bottom-level and middle-level positions. In addition, data reflecting the importance of these needs for both groups are also presented.
References
Brown, F. (1973). The job satisfaction of administrators within a multi-ethnic setting. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association. ERIC ED 090 654.
Mitchell, V. F., and Moudgill, P. (1976). Measurement of Maslow’s need hierarchy. Organizational Behavior and Human Perfor- mance 16:334–49.
Porter, L. W. (1962). Job attitudes in management: I. perceived deficiencies in need fulfillment as a function of job level. Journal of Applied Psychology 46:375–84.
Trusty, F. M., and Sergiovanni, T. J. (1966). Perceived need deficiencies of teachers and administrators: A proposal for restructuring teacher roles. Educational Administration Quarterly 2:168–80.
Van Maanen, J. (1975). Police socialization: A longitudinal examination of job attitudes in an urban police department. Administra- tive Science Quarterly 20:207–28.
Management Position Questionnaire
- The feeling of security in my management position
- The opportunity, in my management position, to give help to other people
- The opportunity to develop close friendships in my management position
- The feeling of self-esteem a person gets from being in my management position
- The prestige of my management position inside the company (that is, the regard received from others in the company)
- The prestige of my management position outside the company (that is, the regard received from others not in the company)
- The authority connected with my management position
- The opportunity for independent thought and action in my management position
- The opportunity, in my management position, for participation in the setting of goals
- The opportunity, in my management position, for participation in the determination of methods and procedures
- The opportunity for personal growth and development in my management position
- The feeling of self-fulfillment a person gets from being in my management position (that is, the feeling of being able to use one’s own unique capabilities, realizing one’s potentialities)
- The feeling of worthwhile accomplishment in my management position
- The pay for my management position
- The feeling of being-in-the-know in my management position
Scoring: Each item is rated on a seven-point scale ranging from 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). Respondents are asked to give three ratings for each item in terms of: How much of the characteristic is there now connected with your manage- ment position? How much of the characteristic do you think should be connected with your management position? How important is this position characteristic to you?