On the road to developing knowledge : a study on the effectiveness of management developmentProgrammes

Abstract

This study aimed to provide insight into the mechanism that determines the effectivity of management development programmes (MDPs) across industries. After reviewing literature on learning and motivation, the following research question was formulated: What is the impact of personality characteristics on the outcome measures and how do the MD characteristics affect this relationship? This question was divided into three hypotheses by means of the theory of planned behaviour, the social learning theory and the goal setting theory. Both direct relations between characteristics of the participants and the MDP on the outcome measures, as well as a moderator effect of the MD characteristics were hypothesized. Information on the variables in this study and demographic variables, was obtained by means of a questionnaire. It was distributed within five companies from different industries. Hypotheses were tested using correlational and hierarchical regression analyses. Two out of three personality characteristics have a positive effect on MD outcomes. Results show that participants who score high on self-efficacy and learning goal orientation, also have higher scores on affective commitment, MD satisfaction, intrinsic MDP benefits and organizational MDP benefits. All MD characteristics have a positive relationship to the outcomes directly and moderate some of the relationships between person characteristics and MD outcomes. The MD characteristics, perceived control, clarity of structure and availability of rolemodels, show a positive relation to four out of six outcomes: MD satisfaction, intrinsic MDP benefits, extrinsic MDP benefits and organizational MDP benefits. None of the person or MD characteristics directly affect job satisfaction, yet the relation between self-efficacy and job satisfaction becomes significant when it is moderated by structure. Feedback seeking behaviour of participants is only relevant when they perceive to have control over their environment, then it has a significant positive effect on affective commitment

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