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The Effect of Decision‐Making Styles and Contextual Experience On Executives' Descriptions of Organizational Problem Formulation

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  • David A. Cowan

Abstract

This study investigated the sensitivity of executives' descriptions of the problem‐formulation process to decision styles, to the decision functions that comprise decision styles, and to executive experience. to refine previous research in this area, four types of organizational problem were included for comparison: strategic, operating, human relations, and technical. In addition, the study included executive experience with each problem type, rather than general management experience. the results indicated that decision functions explained more of the variation in problem descriptions for all four of the problem types than did either decision styles or experience. Particularly, the sensing perceptual function related to problem descriptions of the illstructured problem types, strategic and human‐relations, and the thinking judgemental function related to problem descriptions of the well‐structured problem types, operating and technical. Though this offered support for the premise suggested by Ramaprasad and Mitroff (1984) regarding the usefulness of decision functions, it also raised concern about the available technology for measuring executives' experience in particular contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Cowan, 1991. "The Effect of Decision‐Making Styles and Contextual Experience On Executives' Descriptions of Organizational Problem Formulation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 463-484, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:28:y:1991:i:5:p:463-484
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1991.tb00764.x
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    Cited by:

    1. S. R. Singhvi & Rajat Gera, 2005. "Problem Formulation and Categorization: An Empirical Study of Marketing Problems in an Organization," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 30(2), pages 121-138, May.
    2. BüyükdamgacI, Güldal, 2003. "Process of organizational problem definition: how to evaluate and how to improve," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 327-338, August.
    3. Berthon, Pierre R. & Pitt, Leyland F. & Morris, Michael H., 1998. "The Impact of Individual and Organizational Factors on Problem Perception: Theory and Empirical Evidence from the Marketing-Technical Dyad," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 25-38, May.

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