Unfolding the simple heuristics of smart solution development

PurposeThe present study intends to foster understanding of how a traditional manufacturer can utilize the “simple rules” approach of managerial heuristics to facilitate its smart solution development (SSD) process.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an in-depth single case research strategy and 25 senior manager interviews to understand the application of simple rules in smart solution development.FindingsThe findings reveal process, boundary, preference, schedule, and stop rules as the dominant managerial heuristics in the case and identify how the manufacturer applies these rules during the innovation process phases of ideation, incubation, transformation, and industrialization for attaining project outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to the new service development (NSD) literature by shedding light on simple rules and how managers may apply them to facilitate SSD. The main limitations stem from applying the qualitative case study approach and the interpretative nature of the study, which produces novel insights but prevents direct generalization to other empirical cases.Practical implicationsThe resulting framework provides guidelines for managers on how to establish formal and clear simple rules that enable industrial solution providers to approach decision-making in smart solution development in a more agile manner.Originality/valueThe study comprises one of the first attempts to investigate managerial heuristics in the context of SSD and puts forward a plea for further NSD research applying psychological conceptualizations to enrich the simple rules perspective.

When Should I Stop? Dysphoria Leads to Impaired Task Persistence via Negative Mood

Based on reported motivational deficits in depression – and on persistence deficits in particular – the present study examined whether dysphoric individuals benefit from task contexts that favor longer task persistence. Undergraduates worked on an item-generation task with different stop rules: “Is this a good time to stop?” ( enough rule), “Do I feel like continuing?” ( enjoy rule), or no specific rule. Results revealed that, independent of the stop rule, participants with high depression scores stopped earlier and generated fewer items than participants with low depression scores – an effect that was mediated by current mood state. Thus, contrary to experimentally induced negative mood, the enough-rule intervention was ineffective in eliminating the persistence deficits of dysphoric individuals. Implications for task disengagement and performance outcomes are discussed.

Worry, Mood and Stop Rules in Young Adolescents: Does the Mood-as-Input Theory Apply?

The present study used a mixed methods approach to test the mood-as-input theory of perseverative worry in young adolescents. In an experiment young adolescents were randomized into four groups (positive or negative mood, each with ‘as many as can’ or ‘feel like continuing’ stop rules). However, there was no impact of mood and/or stop rules on perseveration of worry. Some evidence for the mood as input theory was provided by adolescents' qualitative reports of using mood and stop rules as information when deciding to stop worrying. Furthermore, cross-sectional data concurred with adult studies, suggesting trait worry is associated with ‘as many as can’ stop rules and initial negative mood. It is proposed that worry status might interact in complex ways when both mood and stop rules are manipulated and that developmental issues might have impacted on the participants' ability to follow the stop rule allocated.

Evaluation of an Item Bank for a Computerized Adaptive Test of Activity in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Background: Contemporary clinical assessments of activity are needed across the age span for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) has the potential to efficiently administer items for children across wide age spans and functional levels. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a new item bank and simulated computerized adaptive test to assess activity level abilities in children with CP. Design: This was a cross-sectional item calibration study. Methods: The convenience sample consisted of 308 children and youth with CP, aged 2 to 20 years (X=10.7, SD=4.0), recruited from 4 pediatric hospitals. We collected parent-report data on an initial set of 45 activity items. Using an Item Response Theory (IRT) approach, we compared estimated scores from the activity item bank with concurrent instruments, examined discriminate validity, and developed computer simulations of a CAT algorithm with multiple stop rules to evaluate scale coverage, score agreement with CAT algorithms, and discriminant and concurrent validity. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported scale unidimensionality, local item dependence, and invariance. Scores from the computer simulations of the prototype CATs with varying stop rules were consistent with scores from the full item bank (r=.93–.98). The activity summary scores discriminated across levels of upper-extremity and gross motor severity and were correlated with the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) physical function and sports subscale (r=.86), the Functional Independence Measure for Children (Wee-FIM) (r=.79), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory–Cerebral Palsy version (r=.74). Limitations: The sample size was small for such IRT item banks and CAT development studies. Another limitation was oversampling of children with CP at higher functioning levels. Conclusions: The new activity item bank appears to have promise for use in a CAT application for the assessment of activity abilities in children with CP across a wide age range and different levels of motor severity.