| This study tests a set of hypotheses concerning knowledge obsolescence in samples of electrical, mechanical, and research engineers in Egypt. It was hypothesized that knowledge obsolescence is positively related to bureaucratic elements, managerial role orientations, level of supervision, age, and length of experience. It was also predicted that knowledge obsolescence is negatively related to elements of the professional model, commitment to professional activities, level of education, and technical orientation.;Several major conclusions of the study are: (1) There is no general or consistent conflict between the professionals and their employing organizations. (2) Concerning the duality of the engineer's role, it is clear that a managerial role orientation is postively related to knowledge obsolescence for the mechanical and electrical engineers; however, it encourages the updating of knowledge among research engineers. (3) The three engineering samples had different perceptions of the structural elements of bureaucracy and professionalism. (4) Working on research and development is related to less knowledge obsolescence. (5) Because of cultural differences and the historical background of Egyptian society, the meaning of professionalism is different in Egypt from that held by American engineers and other professionals in the West. (6) The striking findings about perceptions of formalization may reflect Egypt's culture and historical background as well as the important role of Egyptian bureaucracy, which places considerable emphasis upon organizational rules and obedience to supervisors. Formalization is not perceived as a major source of conflict between professionals and bureaucracy.;Testing of the above hypotheses produced the following findings: (1) in the three engineering samples, the direct effects of the perceived degree of centralization, autonomy, universalistic standards of selection and promotion, technical role orientations, commitment to professional activities, level of education, and age generally support the predictions; (2) the bureaucratic model is more powerful than the professional model in explaining differences in knowledge obsolescence; (3) an important but unexpected finding is that knowledge obsolescence is negatively related to perceptions of formalization and level of supervision in the three samples. |
