SummaryTo obtain further understanding of the effects of orientation on performance, 180 supervisory and technical personnel in a chemical plant were administered the Orientation Inventory, assessing their relativeself, interaction, andtask orientation.In line with expectations,task orientationcorrelated positively with success as a technically‐trained supervisor, and as a first‐line foreman. Engineers in research and design were likewise moretask‐orientedthan those in consultative, supervisory, or administrative work whoseinteraction orientationwas likely to be relatively higher. Orientation differences were also found between echelons and between safety and line superv