An organizational investigation of the effects of accountability and ambiguity on information management in the decision-making process /
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1986.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | The decision-making process is influenced both by the environment surrounding the decision and the individual in the decision-making role. Based on these foundations, a contingency model of decision making is developed that links the individual as he/she perceives and interprets the decision environment to the prechoice stage, evaluation/choice stage, and postchoice stage of decision making. The model emphasizes the central role of information in the decision process and develops a framework for organizing and investigating information management behavior in decision making. An experiment was conducted in a field setting to investigate the influences of two environmental influences in the model: accountability and ambiguity. In the prechoice stage of decision making, information management was characterized as information search behavior. Individuals consistently used quality information rather than accessible information, regardless of the level of accountability. In the evaluation/choice stage of decision making, information management was characterized as the degree of vigilance used in evaluating alternatives. Vigilance was significantly related to accountability but not ambiguity. In the postchoice stage of decision making, information management was characterized as information manipulation. As predicted, individuals used information management by manipulating information more in conditions of high accountability and low ambiguity than any other condition. High self-monitors used information management by manipulating information more in high accountability conditions than in low accountability conditions. The results support the notion that accountability and ambiguity affect an individual's use of information management in the role of decision maker. The practical application of the results in the organization are discussed and future research challenges are suggested. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Management." |
| Physical Description: | xi, 191 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-162). |