An Integrative Model of Updating and Performance

Under conditions of rapid technological innovation, maintaining the technical competence of a firm's human resources becomes critical. This research developed a theoretical framework and model for updating. It was proposed that individual characteristics and contextual features would jointly affect perceptions of the job and the climate for updating. The perceptions would, in mm, mediate the relationship between the contextual features and individual responses of performance and updating. Data gathered from 483 engineers drawn from 220 subunits across seven organizations provided partial support. Context measures were significantly mediated by the perceptions. Individual characteristics, however, were directly linked to performance and updating responses. The results suggest that attempts to influence performance and updating may require modifications to the techno-structural aspects of work.