title: Alcohol and managerial performance.
abstract: Effects of alcohol intoxication at .05 and .10 breath alcohol concentration upon a number of validated indicators of managerial performance were investigated in a double-blind crossover placebo-controlled simulation design. Managers (N = 48) spent 2 days handling quasi-experimental (partially event-controlled) tasks that permitted realistic managerial decision making under both "normal" and "emergency" conditions. The data showed that speed and frequency of managerial action were affected by alcohol at the .10 but not the .05 level. Strategy and planning deteriorated at both levels. Limited improvement of performance was observed for one simpler component of managerial functioning at the lower intoxication level, possibly due to myopia and/or a motivated "strain" toward better performance induced by the perception of impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Streufert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pogash
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roache
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Severs
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gingrich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lonardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kantner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001944:Breath Tests; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol