Linking Cognition to Organizational Problems: Micro and Macro Approaches to Decision Making

Abstract

In a series of articles on “The Behavioral Theory of the Firm” Giovanni Gavetti, Daniel Levinthal, and William Ocasio argue for a more decision-centered view of organizations. “The organizational level of analysis”, they suggest, “has been largely supplanted by either a more micro or a more macro focus” (Gavetti, Levinthal, and Ocasio, 2007: 523). To remain interesting to organizational science, research should focus on linking individual cognition to organizational problems and interests. In this symposium, we include four papers that answer this call by exploring how individual cognition ([1] creativity, [2] decision frames, [3] risk, and [4] inequality perceptions) affects organizations. Following the presentations, Dr. Hart Posen, a major contributor to organizational decision- making and expert on strategy and innovation, will serve as the discussant to provide both theoretical and practical suggestions and lead an interactive group discussion. Decisions About Inequality: Unfairness Between Companies More Acceptable Than Between Individuals Presenter: Simone Tang; Duke U. Presenter: Richard Larrick; Duke U.