Cognitive Task Analysis: Eliciting Management Cognition

Abstract

Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) is a powerful qualitative methodological approach which has the potential to add to management researchers’ knowledge of in-depth interviewing techniques, whilst addressing the importance of producing rigorous research that has relevance for management practice. Developed within the Naturalistic Decision-Making community, this set of semi-structured interviewing techniques have much to offer to management researchers. Distinct from traditional semi-structured interview methods, CTA is designed to identify the knowledge requirements that underpin expertise in complex work domains. CTA is underutilised by management scholars, contrary to other applied social science disciplines in cognitive psychology, human factors, and ergonomics where it is widely used. This paper aims to advance understanding of these pragmatic techniques which are theoretically rigorous and easy to use, with results which have high face validity with practitioners. First, we provide an overview of CTA as a robust methodological approach to research oriented around knowledge elicitation. Second, we provide two examples of how the CTA approach has been used to research management; specifically using the Critical Decision Method to explore management in high-stakes environments; and an Applied Cognitive Task Analysis to explore global strategic leadership. In ending, we highlight potential avenues for using CTA for innovative management research.