Managerial self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and work-role salience as determinants of ambition for a managerial position

Based on research involving a sample of 1,030 employees in three different organizations, the determinants of ambition for a managerial position were examined using LISREL analyses. The analysis provided support for the model derived from social cognitive career theory. Ambition for a managerial pos ition was mainly explained by managerial self-efficacy, which was influence d by performance attainment, physiological arousal, and verbal persuasion. Outcome expectancies and work-role salience had a direct as well as an indi rect relationship with ambition for a managerial position, mediated by mana gerial self-efficacy. Although the structural model was supported in the th ree samples, the estimated parameters in the model differed. Contrary to wh at was expected, vicarious experience did not contribute to self-efficacy i n management tasks.