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Managerial (In)attention to Competitive Threats

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  • Jeffery S. McMullen
  • Dean A. Shepherd
  • Holger Patzelt

Abstract

We integrate the Attention Based View of the firm and Regulatory Focus Theory to propose a model of managerial (in)attention that explains why appeals by middle managers for top managers to attend to specific threats of emerging rivals go unheeded. By acknowledging that different regulatory foci are elicited by different structural positions within the firm, we suggest that these differences in regulatory foci influence the allocation of attention to competitive intelligence warning of an emerging threat. We conclude by discussing how top managers might better evaluate whether threats of emerging rivals are worthy of deeper consideration.

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  • Jeffery S. McMullen & Dean A. Shepherd & Holger Patzelt, 2009. "Managerial (In)attention to Competitive Threats," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(2), pages 157-181, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:46:y:2009:i:2:p:157-181
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2008.00799.x
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