Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2004
Abstract
This study explores the influence of the personal characteristics of engineers and the nature of their work environment on innovation, characterized as generating revenue from innovative outputs. Using the paradigm of multiple intelligences developed by Gardner and its related literature, in concert with academic achievement in high school and the presence of a mentor, we empirically tested these relationships with over 250 engineers from one Fortune 500 corporation. The results show that although theory suggested direct positive influences of musical, spatial, logical and physical intelligences on revenue, only two of these intelligences had any direct effect and the effect was negative. However, social capital skills were able to mediate the influence they have on gross revenue, except in the case of spatial intelligence. Also, while having a mentor was generally a negative influence on gross revenue, social capital was able to mediate this into a positive and significant relationship. In the environment studied, overall academic achievement in high school influenced gross revenue positively, while academic achievement in science courses had a negative influence on gross revenue.
Keywords
engineering--case studies
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Brand, Stephen S., "Where Potential Leads" (2004). Student Scholarship. 532.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/532