Cognitive Process and Individual Traits; the Factors Affecting Decision Making Style of Managers

Abstract

This research examines the relationship between key individual traits—proactivity, self-awareness, relative positioning, adaptability, and prudence—and decision-makingstyles, offering insights into cognitive processes that influence managerial choices andactions. The primary objective is to assess how these independent variables shapedecision-making styles, exploring whether proactive individuals adopt proactivedecision-making approaches, whether self-awareness fosters introspection, andwhether adaptability leads to flexible decision-making. A quantitative researchmethodology was employed, utilizing a purposive sampling technique and a cross- sectional time order to target individuals actively engaged in decision-making withintheir organizations. Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for dataanalysis. The findings indicate that proactivity, self-awareness, and relativepositioning significantly influence the decision-making styles of Pakistani managers. However, contrary to previous studies, adaptability and prudence did not showasignificant impact, highlighting a critical area for further research. These results emphasize the importance of self-awareness, proactivity, and relative positioninginshaping managerial decision-making, offering valuable theoretical and practical
implications. The findings suggest that while adaptability and prudence may not beinfluential in this context, their role in dynamic or high-stakes environments warrants deeper exploration to better understand their potential impact on decision-makingprocesses.

Keyword: Decision making, managers, Cognitive Process, Proactivity, Self- awareness, Relative Positioning, Adaptability, Prudence