Managing Motivation and Job Satisfaction of Scientists

This book, based on research conducted at a government research institute in the UK, looks at what motivates research scientists and leads to high levels of job satisfaction and performance, especially during organisational change and transition. Two types of scientists were identified, those who were loyal to their organisation and were driven by the application of their science and those who were driven by curiosity and were more cosmopolitan in their outlook. Levels of job satisfaction and motivation varied considerably between individuals but could not be correlated with age, length of service, gender, department or job grade. Formal incentive schemes appeared to be ineffective but management styles and appraisal systems were identified as being very important in motivating scientists. Local quality of life and flexible employment conditions were important factors in increasing job satisfaction and retaining staff. This book should be useful to managers, policy makers and academics interested in understanding the impact of organisational change and transition on motivation and job satisfaction.