This study examined patterns of early upward mobility for a cohort of 180 employees of an oil company over an 11-year period. The results were not consistent with a strict tournament model of mobility. Later positions were more predictive of career attainment than were early promotions. In addition, initial functional area and the number of different jobs held were related to career attainment. The data supported signaling theory as an explanation of the effects of historical data on decisions about promotions.

The article discusses the relationship between employee abilities and job satisfaction. The author notes a number of objectives to the study in question. The first is to investigate the relationship between employee ability and job satisfaction. Another is to extend earlier research on this relationship as a function of tasks. Results from the study indicate that more capable naval personnel have intentions to leave the service sooner than less capable service members. According to the author, strong negative correlations were found between ability and performance.