Overcoming Cognitive Constraints to Strategic Adaptation: Exploring Three Perspectives
Publisher
St. Gallen: University of St. Gallen
Date issued
2015
Subjects
Adaptation managerial cognition cognitive constraints social influence attention load strategic flexibility deinstitutionalization
Abstract
Prior research uncovered that decision-makers face important cognitive constraints to strategically adapt to a discontinuous environment. With the purpose to further scholarly understanding of this managerial problem, this dissertation investigates how social influence mechanisms can support strategic decision-makers to overcome the cognitive constraints involved in strategic adaptation to discontinuous change. The dissertation has two overarching purposes: First, it seeks to develop theory on the dynamic processes through which decision-makers can overcome their cognitive constraints. Second, it develops theory on the particular roles of social influence mechanisms from the organization's internal and external context for shaping these dynamics.
This dissertation proceeds as follows: Chapter A provides a summarized overview of existing literature and introduces the dissertation's overarching framework, with related conceptual definitions upon which the subsequent theoretical arguments build. It motivates the dissertation's overall research focus and three specific research questions that will be addressed within three single-standing articles. The first two articles (Chapters C and D) comprise conceptual studies. They offer conceptual accounts of how top managers vary in their use of attention capacity, and of reasoning routines by highlighting linkages between social influences and these cognitive processes. Chapter E comprises an empirical study on the deinstitutionalization of Swiss banking secrecy. This article elaborates on how social conflict processes force decision-makers to overcome institutionalized prescriptions in order to engage in institutional change.
Chapter F offers a discussion of the dissertation's major implications - a detailed conceptual and empirical elaboration of the social influences dynamics that instigate decision-makers to overcome cognitive constraints and to foster strategic adaptation to discontinuities.
This dissertation proceeds as follows: Chapter A provides a summarized overview of existing literature and introduces the dissertation's overarching framework, with related conceptual definitions upon which the subsequent theoretical arguments build. It motivates the dissertation's overall research focus and three specific research questions that will be addressed within three single-standing articles. The first two articles (Chapters C and D) comprise conceptual studies. They offer conceptual accounts of how top managers vary in their use of attention capacity, and of reasoning routines by highlighting linkages between social influences and these cognitive processes. Chapter E comprises an empirical study on the deinstitutionalization of Swiss banking secrecy. This article elaborates on how social conflict processes force decision-makers to overcome institutionalized prescriptions in order to engage in institutional change.
Chapter F offers a discussion of the dissertation's major implications - a detailed conceptual and empirical elaboration of the social influences dynamics that instigate decision-makers to overcome cognitive constraints and to foster strategic adaptation to discontinuities.
Publication type
book