Demystifying the Role of Emotions in Decision-Making Sciences

Modern studies have asserted the role of emotions on decision-making abilities. The study examines the role of emotional intelligence on decision styles of managers and the mediating role of emotional labor in enhancing decision styles of managers in selected Indian IT firms. The research is an empirical study proposing an affective EI-EL-DM model through a survey of 300 managers of 10 MNCs in the Indian IT industry using stratified sampling technique. The survey instrument includes 83 items with Schutte et al. AES tool, Naring et al. D-QEL tool, and Scott and Bruce GDMS. Middle-level IT managers have been found to frequently, leading to avoidant, spontaneous, or dependent decision-making yielding adverse outcomes. High EI is related to frequent usage of rational and intuitive decisions besides effective use of deep acting. Emotional labour influences all decision-making abilities. HR practices are recommended to improve the decision styles of IT managers through high EI and EL.

Normas contínuas para a Escala de Estilos de Decisão (Decision Styles Scale) em uma amostra brasileira

Introdução: A Escala de Estilos de Tomada de Decisão é um instrumento desenvolvido para avaliar dois estilos decisórios distintos, o intuitivo/ heurístico vs. o deliberado/racional. Estudos anteriores verificaram que a adaptação brasileira da escala é adequada e apresenta boas propriedades psicométricas. O presente estudo apresenta parâmetros preliminares no formato de normas contínuas para o instrumento. Métodos: Participaram do estudo 1.218 adultos brasileiros com idade entre 18 e 64 anos. Resultados: Os resultados da escala não foram influenciados por idade ou sexo reportado, sendo possível apresentar os resultados em normas contínuas para a amostra global. Conclusão: Os resultados apresentados constituem-se em normas preliminares para a interpretação da versão brasileira do estudo. Novos estudos são necessários para a obtenção de normas com base em amostras representativas da população

Once an Optimist, Always an Optimist? Studying Cognitive Judgment Bias in Mice

Individuals differ in the way they perceive the world. From human psychological research, it is known that these differences become particularly evident in ambiguous situations: while some individuals interpret ambiguous information pessimistically, others bias their inter-pretations in a more optimistic way, referred to as cognitive judgement bias (CJB). CJBs have also been studied in non-human animals as tools for the assessment of affective states. However, the ecological and evolutionary relevance of CJB has so far been overlooked. We here aimed to transfer the concept of CJB to behavioural ecology. More specifically, we investigated the causes of differences in CJB in mice, focusing on both genetic and environmental factors. Furthermore, we assessed whether individual differences in CJB are repeatable over time, addressing the question whether “optimistic” and “pessimistic” decision styles, respectively, may represent stable traits. Thus, two strains of mice (C57BL/6J and B6D2F1N) were housed in two different environmental conditions: “scarce” or “complex”. While mice living in the “scarce environment” experienced standard housing conditions, those living in the “complex environment” had regular access to a super-enriched “playground”. To calculate the repeatability of “optimistic” and “pessimistic” decision styles, we assessed CJB four times across the course of seven weeks. Moreover, we assessed anxiety-like behaviour to detect potential differences in the effects of genetic or environmental factors on CJB and anxiety. While the selected genotypes and environments influenced some aspects of anxiety-like behaviour, no influence on CJB could be detected, indicating that CJB and anxiety might represent distinct systems. Remarkably, CJB was moderately repeatable, suggesting that decision-making under ambiguity constitutes a relatively stable trait and might even be considered an aspect of animal personality.

Impact of Decision-Making Styles on Leadership Styles in Business Managers

The present study was sought to examine the role of rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant, and spontaneous decision styles in the prediction of transformational, transactional, and laissez faire leadership styles. Research questionnaire were Urdu-translated versions of General Decision styles Questionnaire (Scott & Bruce, 1995) and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Bass & Avolio, 2000). The sample of the current study consisted of 300 business managers from different regions of Pakistan. Purposive sampling was employed to collect the data. Multiple Regression analysis and Stepwise Regression analysis demonstrated impact of decision styles on leadership styles. Rational and intuitive decision style displayed positive effect and avoidant decision style displayed negative effect on transformational leadership style. Rational, intuitive, and dependent positively predicted transactional leadership style. Avoidant decision style displayed positive effect whereas rational and spontaneous decision style showed negative effect on laissez faire leadership style. The study shed light on the fact that the decisions of the leaders can be used as determining factors to assess their leadership in the business organizations. Keywords: Decision Making Styles, Leadership Styles, Business Managers.

Direct and Indirect Consequences of Decision Situations in Managers in Cellular Companies

The direct and indirect consequences of decision situations in cellular companies were investigated in this research. Prior literature suggests that usually two types of decisions are made in the modern organizations broadly categorized as programmed and non-programmed decisions. Study was conducted which focused on examining the direct effect and indirect effect and (through programmed and non-programmed decisions) on subsequent decision styles of managers which were rational and intuitive. Three scales were used for data collection from managers in cellular companies (N = 400). Hierarchical regressions confirmed that decision situations have both direct and indirect effect on the decision styles of managers. Keywords: Certainty, Uncertainty, Programmed, Non-Programmed Decisions, Rational Style, Intuitive Style.

A preliminary study of gray matter volume differences related to context-dependent and independent decision-making

Facing the high degree of uncertainty of the environment, we have evolved two kinds of decision-making styles: context-dependent and context-independent decision. However, the underlying neural basis of these two kinds of decision styles was mostly unknown. Here, the cognitive bias task was applied to split participants into the context-independent decision-maker and context-dependent decision-maker based on the cognitive bias task scores. Then, we used voxel-based morphometry to directly investigate its underlying differences in gray matter volume. We found that the gray matter volume of the prefrontal cortex and parietal regions, such as inferior parietal lobule, was larger in context-dependent decision-makers than that of the context-independent decision-maker.

Millennials and Generation Z: a generational cohort analysis of Indian consumers

PurposeYoung consumers are recognized as an important and lucrative segment for the businesses across the globe. While initial steps have been taken to understand them, majority of the existing works consider both Millennials and Generation Z as a single and homogeneous market segment. The purpose of this study is to explore the consumer decision-making styles which are prevalent among Indian Millennials and Generation Z e-shoppers, and how significantly they differ from one another on each of those decision-making attributes.Design/methodology/approachThis exploratory study used the generational cohort theory (GCT) as a framework. The psychographic statements (Questionnaire items) employed were adopted from several past researches on store orientation and catalog orientation, and they were rephrased to suit to the context of Indian online shopping. The principal components factor analysis with promax rotation has been used to unearth the underlying decision-styles among 503 survey participants. Subsequently, the ANOVA model was run to examine the mean differences between the cohorts.FindingsThe factor analysis has revealed that frugality (Price), convenience (Home) and social desirableness are the most dominant shopping orientations (decision-styles) that prevail among Indian (Millennials and Generation Z) online shoppers though in varying degrees. The probing of ANOVA results suggested that, though both the cohorts favor e-shopping, Generation Z are more enthusiastic about online shopping than their Millennial counterparts do.Practical implicationsThough Generation Z and Millennials share few characteristics between them, they exhibit different consumer behaviors. Marketers need to customize their value offerings and marketing communications that resonate well with each generational cohort.Originality/valueAlmost all the existing research works that have been conducted so far on generational cohorts are from Western and European countries and one could confidently say that those findings cannot be applied for the developing nations such as India which is a complex and diverse country in terms of its language, custom, religion and practices with troublesome pasts. Moreover, this is the first empirical work to be conducted to unearth the generational differences that exist between Generation Z and Millennials to the best of authors' knowledge.

Influencia del perfil del entrenador en el diseño de tareas en fútbol-base. Estudio de casos (Influence of coach profile on the design of training tasks in initiation to football. A case study)

Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron analizar el perfil autodefinido del entrenador de Fútbol-Base y conocer su modo de actuación durante dos mesociclos competitivos en la categoría juvenil. Se analizaron 323 tareas de entrenamiento de tres entrenadores con diferente perfil autodefinido identificado mediante los cuestionarios: i) Orientación de los Entrenadores; ii) Escala de Conocimientos y Capacidades; iii) Estilos de Decisión en el Deporte; y iv) Estilo de Planificación Deportiva. Las variables pedagógicas y organizativas durante las tareas de entrenamiento fueron clasificadas mediante la herramienta SIATE. Los estadísticos Chi cuadrado (χ2), Coeficiente Phi (φc), Test de Fisher (f), y Residuos Tipificados Corregidos (RTC) fueron empleados para identificar diferencias y grado de asociación entre variables. El perfil autodefinido del entrenador influye directamente en el diseño de las tareas con un grado de asociación moderado-alto (χ2=174.692-24.409; φc=0.520-0.194). Por tanto, su análisis es esencial para la mejora formativa del entrenador y el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en el fútbol-base. Abstract. The aims of the present study were to analyze the self-defined profile of initiation-to-football coaches and to evaluate their acting behaviours during two competitive mesocycles in youth football. 323 training tasks of three coaches were analyzed. Self-defined profiles were identified through the questionnaires: i) Coaches Orientation; ii) Scale of Knowledge and Capabilities; iii) Decision Styles in Sport; and iv) Sports Planning Style. The pedagogical and organizational variables during the training tasks were classified using the SIATE tool. The statistics Chi square (χ2), Phi coefficient (φc), Fisher’s exact test (f), and Adjusted Standardized Residuals (ASR) were used to identify differences and association degree between variables. Coaches' self-defined profile directly influences the design of training tasks with a moderate-to-high association degree (χ2=174.692-24.409; φc=0.520-0.194). Therefore, their analysis is essential for coaches’ training improvement and teaching-learning process in initiation to football.

Relations between purchase decision styles and personal characteristics of buyers

The aim of the presented research is to examine whether certain personality traits can predict the decision-making styles in the context of purchasing among Serbian customers. The research involved 462 respondents of different genders, ages and levels of education. The decision-making styles of purchasing were examined using the SDKO questionnaire. SDKO questionnaire measures purchasing decision-making styles (Planners, Ethno-eco oriented, Trendsetters, Bargain hunters, Sceptics). Personality traits like Extraversion, Neuroticism and Openness to experience were measured with subscales from the Big Five Inventory, Impulsiveness was measured with Scale of Innovativeness; and Impulsiveness with the Impulsive Buying Scale (BIC). Regression analyzes were performed on the data and the results show that a set of predictors can be used to predict three purchasing decision-making styles: Planners, Ethno-eco oriented and Trendsetters. The obtained results were discussed in relation to their theoretical and practical significance for marketing practice.