Abstract:

This study contributes to the discussion on problem solving as search by focusing on how individuals search and what individual antecedents determine search behavior. So far the literature has mainly addressed the strategic distinction between exploration and exploitation on an organizational level, and has done less to disentangle individual level problem solving behaviors. Exploration is defined as going beyond local search, but how does an individual actually carry out meaningful distant search and what antecedents explain search behaviors? Relying on a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews we identify heterogeneous search behaviors and find evidence that individual cognitive styles and how players form and adapt internal representations can explain part of this heterogeneity.

More info: http://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/id(45ab819e-2d4e-4146-b4f4-e9e879117745).html