Matching Owner-Managers' Cognitive Style and Organizational Demands in Family Firms

24 Pages Posted: 7 Oct 2007

See all articles by Keith H. Brigham

Keith H. Brigham

Texas Tech University - Rawls College of Business

Ritch Sorenson

Texas Tech University - Area of Management

Julio O. de Castro

Instituto de Empresa Business School

Date Written: April 1, 2004

Abstract

Based on survey responses from 159 owners-managers in small, family firms, we examined the association between specific individual characteristics, firm characteristics, and the individual psychosocial outcomes of satisfaction, intentions to exit, and perceived fit. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated higher satisfaction, lower intentions to exit, and higher perceived fit for owner-managers whose dominant decision-making style complemented the levels of formalization in their firms. More specifically, the results suggested that owner-managers with intuitive decision-making styles were better fitted to the demands corresponding to less structured firm environments than their analytic counterparts. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

Brigham, Keith H. and Sorenson, Ritch and de Castro, Julio O., Matching Owner-Managers' Cognitive Style and Organizational Demands in Family Firms (April 1, 2004). Instituto de Empresa Business School Working Paper No. WP04-09, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1019606 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1019606

Keith H. Brigham

Texas Tech University - Rawls College of Business ( email )

MS2101
Lubbock, TX 79409
United States
806-742-2133 (Phone)

Ritch Sorenson

Texas Tech University - Area of Management ( email )

United States
806- 742-2173 (Phone)
806- 742-2308 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://management.ba.ttu.edu/Faculty/RSorenson.htm

Julio O. De Castro (Contact Author)

Instituto de Empresa Business School ( email )

Serrano 99
Madrid, 28006
Spain

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