Investigating Supervisor Attributions of Subordinate Performance

This field study was conducted to investigate the impact of factors relating to supervisor-subordinate affective relationship and work relationship, supervisor job tenure, and subordinate performance level on supervisor attributions of subordinate performance. The results indicate that the length and nature of supervisor-subordinate work relationship and supervisor job tenure significantly affect supervisor attributions of subordinate performance to internal or external causes. The results for supervisor-subordinate affective relationship and subordinate performance level conflict with previous, predominantly laboratory-based, research. Reasons are discussedfor these results. Implications for practice are also offered.