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Experimental Research in Social Science seminar series: New and ill-structured problems: Two problem solving strategies

Talk by Daniella Laureiro-Martinez Department of Management Technology and Economics, ETH Zürich

Info about event

Time

Tuesday 14 February 2017,  at 11:00 - 13:00

Location

IMC Meeting Room, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, Building 1483-312, 8000 Aarhus C

Organizer

AR

Abstract

When managers face complex ill-structured problems for which they lack experience, what is the better use of their time and attention? Are they better off trying to define and frame it or trying to repeatedly test possible solutions? What are the most common problem-solving phases, how do people combine the phases into different strategies, and how strategies lead to performance. This paper provides an answer to these questions using a novel method that combines the well known think-aloud protocols with the novel use of sequence analyses. We analyze the problem solving of 48 organizational leaders. We codify each of the phases in their problem-solving process and derive their strategies. We find two types of strategies: First, those that focus on the framing stages. Second, those that focus on the ideas that derive from thinking about implementation stages. Interestingly these two strategies differ in their ability to solve the problem with the latter obtaining a superior performance. We propose episodic future thinking, a particular form of prospection, as the cognitive function responsible for the differences in the strategies. We discuss the implications of these results for our theories of problem solving in novel contexts, strategy making, and learning.

Speaker: Assistant Professor Daniella Laureiro-Martinez 

Affiliation: Technology and Innovation Management Group, Department of Management Technology and Economics, ETH Zürich

 

The seminar series Experimental Research in Social Science hosts speakers who apply experimental methods to study questions relevant to economics, management, or social sciences more generally.

The format is a one hour seminar aimed at a broad, interdisciplinary audience, followed by time for informal discussion over a sandwich lunch.

The series is co-hosted by IMC, the Department of Economics and Business Economics, and the Department of Management. 

Organizers: Alexander Koch (ECON) - Carsten Bergenholtz (MGMT) - Andreas Roepstorff (IMC)

Coordinator: Mette Trier Damgaard