ABSTRACT
This study explored the interaction effects of stressful intraorganizational transfer and collaborative interpersonal support (CIS) on work-related outcomes in an R&D environment. Questionnaire data were gathered from 161 British/American and 266 West German scientific and engineering professionals employed in R&D unit’s of large industrial companies. In the British/American sample, moderated regression analyses revealed significantly stronger effects of CIS on job involvement, intention to leave, and career satisfaction for transferees than for a comparison group. The buffering effects of CIS were stronger for lateral than for promoted transferees. Because similar results were not found in the West German sample, the results suggest that British/American R&D professionals benefit more from CIS in times of career stress. Findings are discussed in terms of future cross-cultural stress research needs and preventive interventions for engendering CIS among technical professionals.
