ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the macro-environment in which scientists make their careers. It provides a comparative review of the Public Service, Private R&D, Research Institutes and Universities scientific employment contexts at the organisational level. The relationships between the sectors are first examined before reviewing the impact of general environmental change on scientific research organisations and the career contexts. Although the four employment sectors are distinguishable by their research orientation and their function as research-only or research-plus arenas, there are nevertheless numerous inter-relationships between them. The extent to which the careers of scientists are affected by changes occurring in the wider organisational environment is considered. In all four scientific employment settings, there is evidence of substantial organisational change, in response to environmental pressures, with consequences for careers. The career structures that form the basis of ‘external’ objective career in the four scientific employment settings are now compared. There are a number of dimensions that characterise career management activity in each employment setting.
