Technical and management notes: The technically-oriented personality in management

Offers practical insights into the technically oriented personality by briefly discussing several developmental, educational, and work experiences which are often common to such people. The classic dilemma faced by people who provide a technically specialized service to an organization is that such people must choose between the management route or the technical individual-contributor route of career development. Five important areas covering skill and personality variables are discussed. It is stressed that these areas should be reviewed and analyzed by a person faced with such a choice and should be considered by those responsible for decisions concerning such people. Finally, several suggestions for those who manage other technical professionals are offered.