IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/ororsc/v34y2023i6p2043-2063.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Microfoundations of Adaptive Search in Complex Tasks: The Role of Cognitive Abilities and Styles

Author

Listed:
  • Carsten Bergenholtz

    (Department of Management, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark)

  • Oana Vuculescu

    (Department of Management, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark)

  • Ali Amidi

    (Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark)

Abstract

Problem-solving in complex environments requires a cognitively demanding search for task solutions. Managing this search process presents a major challenge in organizations. We contribute to the literature on this topic by providing new evidence on the cognitive antecedents that shape how individuals search when engaged in complex problem-solving tasks. We present results from three laboratory studies, wherein 335 individuals solved a complex task. In doing so, they generated behavioral data coupled with survey-based measurements of the individuals’ cognitive styles and performance-based tests of their cognitive abilities. Our data analysis contributes to the current literature by documenting systematic heterogeneity in the persistence and distance of search that can be explained by the participants’ level of creativity, attention to detail, and executive functions. We extend the research on the microfoundations of adaptive search by linking cognitive antecedents with a complex search task, widening our insight into what search behavior certain cognitive microfoundations lead to, and showing how managers can more effectively shape organizational search.

Suggested Citation

  • Carsten Bergenholtz & Oana Vuculescu & Ali Amidi, 2023. "Microfoundations of Adaptive Search in Complex Tasks: The Role of Cognitive Abilities and Styles," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(6), pages 2043-2063, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:34:y:2023:i:6:p:2043-2063
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2023.1654
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.1654
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/orsc.2023.1654?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:34:y:2023:i:6:p:2043-2063. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.