Manpower Obsolescence: A New Definition and Empirical Investigation of Personal Variables

DUE TO TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND THE GROWTH OF KNOWLEDGE, THE PROBLEM OF MANPOWER OBSOLESCENCE AMONG BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND MANAGERS IS BECOMING MORE SEVERE. THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR AVOIDING OBSOLESCENCE RESTS WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL. TO ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY TO COMBAT OBSOLESCENCE IN PEOPLE WITH VARYING EDUCATIONS, WORK BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION, IT IS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE ROLE OF VARIOUS PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS IN RETARDING OR PREVENTING OBSOLESCENCE. OF TWELVE MAJOR DETERMINANTS OF MANAGERIAL AND TECHNICAL JOB OBSOLESCENCE, HIGH NEED ACHIEVEMENT AND HIGH LEVELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL PARTICIPATION WERE FOUND TO BE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO NONOBSOLESCENCE. MANAGERIAL OBSOLESCENCE, AS OPPOSED TO PROFESSIONAL OBSOLESCENCE, TENDED TO DEPEND MORE ON EXPERIENCE AND LESS ON EDUCATION. TABLES. REFERENCES.