The Organizational Imperative in Science

An evaluation of organizational attachment processes accentuates the pervasive influence work sites have on the community of scientists. Work climates determine the distribution of rewards and resources to researchers and by meeting both personal and professional objectives can encourage allegiance to a specific organization. The basis for organizational allegiance, however, varies by employment sector: the fidelity of university scientists is related to satisfaction with general work conditions and is not necessarily connected to their research work; in contrast, non-academic scientists — employed at governmental and industrial laboratories — develop strong functional research relationships with their organizations. These complementary work locations for stable scientific careers highlight the organizational imperative as a vital link between alternative motivational structures for researchers and the development of the scientific enterprise.