Coherence and Dissonance: A New Understanding in Management and Organizations

Abstract

This paper argues that coherence is something about which cognitive dissonance theory is concerned but not explored. After examining the meaning of coherence in several disciplines in psychology, this writing introduces the concept of Coherence Judgment. The author argues that cognitive dissonance motivates the search for coherence, as a means to get rid of dissonance. Coherence judgment, as a particular cognitive process, allows the subject to decide about the way to reduce or remove dissonance, and then to verify the effect achieved. On the other hand, incoherence may trigger dissonance, which in turn motivates the search for coherence. After putting forward a formal definition of Coherence Judgment, the author argues whether coherence is a feature of reality, as some authors propose, or mainly a cognitive process, and also whether psychology needs a coherence Judgment concept. Several implications are outlined for theory development and useful applications in management and organizational design and change.