| The problem. In today's high-technology aerospace environment, engineers and scientists are likely to be an integral segment of the marketing and business development function. Working in the capacity as marketing managers, engineers play a vital role in the process of fitting together the technology of the aerospace business enterprise and the expressed needs of the high-technology marketplace. This study employed Mintzberg's framework of managerial work to compare the attitudes and perceptions of engineers to non-engineers employed as aerospace marketing managers. The research assessed the respondents' attitudes and perceptions of Mintzberg's managerial roles, skills, and work characteristics.;Method. The research design employed a descriptive-correlational approach which featured the application of a survey instrument based on Mintzberg's (1973) theoretical framework of managerial work. The data source consisted of thirty-two engineers and thirty-two non-engineers employed by high-technology aerospace marketing managers by a major multi-division southern California aerospace firm. Participants ranked in order of perceived importance Mintzberg's managerial roles, skills and work characteristics. Additionally, respondents identified similar or significantly differing factors as determining reasons for entering high-technology marketing careers. Similarities and significant differences were also compared between respondents and demographic data identified from the questionnaire.;Results. The findings indicated close similarities between engineers and non-engineers concerning the importance of Mintzberg's managerial roles. However, there were significant differences noted. Engineers perceived the technical expert role as more important. Non-engineers perceived the monitor and spokesperson roles as more important. Respondents were in general agreement concerning the importance placed on the various managerial skills. Strong similarities and agreement between respondents were found concerning views and perceptions concerning the work characteristics--significant differences were also noted. The study indicated that engineers are more likely to be promoted into marketing manager positions from within the organization than are non-engineers. Non-engineers, on the other hand are more likely to be hired and promoted into these positions from outside the organization. Engineers showed a significantly higher level of formal education than non-engineers. Implications for selection, training, and promotion were also discussed. |
