Thinking and managing: a verbal protocol analysis of managerial problem solving

Article Abstract:

The cognitive processes that managers use to solve problems are discussed, along with the results of a comparative study of students and executives who were asked to solve a hypothetical business problem. In the managers' responses, or protocols, a clear pattern emerged: the managers started to make plans sooner, used fewer words to describe their actions, and were less likely to ask for additional information than were the students. The responses that judged to be the most effective used analogies and conditional reasoning (conditional reasoning consists of personal experience and contingency planning). The managers also tended to make their decisions with incomplete or imperfect information by making inferences based on the data and opportunities at hand.

Psychological aspects, Analysis, Management, Usage, Executives, Management research, Problem solving, Executive ability

---

The effects of employee involvement programs on unionized workers' attitudes, perceptions, and preferences in decision making

Article Abstract:

This research examined differences in perceptions and attitudes regarding work, the union, and preferences for decision-making structures among three groups: participants and nonparticipants in an employee involvement program, and employees who had volunteered for the program but had not yet had the opportunity to participate. Results indicated that the volunteers generally had the most positive attitudes toward their work and union; participants showed the greatest disparity between perceived and desired levels of influence. Participants also viewed employee involvement as the best structure for decision making on some work issues; nonparticipants favored collective bargaining. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, Participatory management, Workers, Employee attitudes

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Optimal pricing and lot-sizing under conditions of perishability and partial backordering. Flow Shop Problems with Time Lags
• Abstracts: Beta in linear risk tolerance economies. Sensitivity analysis for mean-variance portfolio problems. Estimating market model betas: a comparison of random coefficient methods and their ability to correctly identify random variation
• Abstracts: Issues in understanding and changing corporate culture. Values and the American manager: an update updated. A guide to Japanese business practices
• Abstracts: Accounting numbers as market valuation substitutes: a study of management buyouts of public stockholders. Discriminating between reorganized and liquidated firms in bankruptcy
• Abstracts: Developing efffective management skills. The route to savings

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.