Validity of socioeconomic origin as a predictor of executive success

Abstract

A population of 337 male Stanford Graduate School of Business, Master of Business Administration (MBA) alumni was analyzed for association between executive success criteria and socioeconomic origin measured by father's occupation when S was in elementary school, socioeconomic origin elementary school (SEO-elem.), and when S received MBA degree (SEO-MBA). No significant correlation was found between SEO-MBA and any criterion. SEO-elem. correlated significantly (p<.05) with policy authority, level in organization, and job interest; but not with pay, level in business world, organization size, career progress satisfaction, and membership in general management. More comparable studies must precede generalizations about findings; the ultimate value of such research may be to dispel belief in folklore and hence open the way for the science-based study and practice of management. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)