Evolutionary performance, managerial abilities, and change: An exploratory investigation of organizations

Abstract

OBSERVED 50 3-MAN SIMULATED ORGANIZATIONS, EACH OPERATING A MODEL RAILROAD FOR 1 HR. AND EACH GIVEN IDENTICAL INSTRUCTIONS. FOR EACH S DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM THE GHISELLI SELF-DESCRIPTION INVENTORY, THE GOUGH ADJECTIVE CHECK LIST, AND THE PERFORMANCE VARIABLE "NUMBER OF CARS PER TRAIN." THE MAIN MEASUREMENTS USED WERE MEANS, STANDARD DEVIATIONS, AND SKEWNESS. IT WAS SHOWN THAT (1) CERTAIN PROPERTIES OF AN ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERSHIP AFFECT PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE EVOLUTION OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND (2) CHANGES OF BOTH A TASK AND FUNCTIONAL NATURE CONTINUALLY DECREASE FROM THE INCEPTION TO THE COMPLETION OF AN ORGANIZATION. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)