Societal influences on student perceptions of how to succeed in organization: A cross-national analysis

Abstract

Administered the Organizational Success Questionnaire to a total of 1,009 college students in the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, France, West Germany, and Sweden. Results support the hypothesis that national social indicators would help account for differences in endorsement of social (participative) and political (manipulative) intervention for organizational success. Compared across nations, Ss' opinions of behavior requisite for business success tended to be similar to attitudes of managers, but opposed to childhood values. Endorsement of social approaches appeared related nationally to social flexibility and per capita wealth, while endorsement of political approaches appeared related negatively to these but positively to social division and inequality of income distribution. Support of frequent intervention (social and/or political) was related to national social division and to rapid growth of per capita wealth. An integrative model is suggested. (23 ref.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)