The Foreign Service Personnel System: An Organizational Analysis

First published in 1976. This study is perhaps the most comprehensive, objective, and accurate analysis to date of the State Department’s Foreign Service personnel system. Largely based on in-depth interviews of 330 Foreign Service officers ranging in rank from career minister to newly appointed officer, and extensively documented, the book examines the needs of the Foreign Service organization and its personnel and presents an analysis of the policies and procedures according to which it operates. Areas covered include recruitment, training, assignments, performance evaluation, promotions, and attrition. Also discussed in detail is the structure and functioning of the informal system of rules and regulations developed by Foreign Service officers; individuals use this system-which is outside of the prescribed channels–in attempting to influence their career development. Despite its specialized orientation, the study utilizes a methodology that can be applied to any large organization.