The emergence of an occupation: Clean water managers. A case study of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Municipal Facilities Grants Section, 1965-1991 and a 1992 survey of the MDNR Surface Water Quality Division. (Volumes I and II)

This dissertation examines the emergence of new positions in the environmental regulation of wastewater treatment, tracing a shift from sanitary engineering to environmental engineering influenced by the partial institutionalization of the environmental movement. The study assesses the current extent of "occupationalness" of these positions.; A tentative causal model indicates the influence of the environmental movement, the founding legislation, and the characteristics of the initial incumbents on the initial position and on the direction of change in the position. It was hypothesized that a build up of occupational support structures and occupational identity would be influenced by the environmental movement.; A three-step, general sequence of events in the emergence of an occupation is studied: (1) emergence of the clean water manager role, (2) initial definitions of the role, and (3) occupationalizing of the role. Data related to eleven hypotheses generating research questions are discussed.; A theoretical review examines what the sources of new jobs are, how social movements affect job creation, and the rise of emerging organizational fields which create new or altered work jurisdictions. Examples of social movement instituted types of work are reviewed. The major focus is upon the conditions and processes for "occupationalizing" the job.; The dissertation studies a sample of water quality environmental managers in the Municipal Facilities Section and Surface Water Quality Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Methods of data-gathering included participant observation, an organizational development project, intensive interviews with key informants and a mailed survey questionnaire. The study includes documentary research using journals, work records and public documents.; The study presents findings specifying movement effects, origins effects, organizational field and cohort effects on the attributes of the initial position and on the direction of subsequent change in the position, and on the build up of social structure and group consciousness. The expected causal model is revised in the light of research findings.; Major findings include strong support for a developing, broad occupational identity, but suggest only partial development of an occupational social structure in water quality work. A reciprocally reinforcing model of "occupationalizing" is presented and suggestions regarding applications of findings are made.