The consumption of management ideas: a cognitive perspective

Abstract

Purpose

Building on recent research that emphasizes the role of managers as central in the adoption and implementation of management ideas, the purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons why managers may vary in their responses toward these ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a cognitive perspective, the research uses a repertory grid approach to analyze survey data from 189 managers.

Findings

Rather than stressing only the role of organizational context, the paper indicates the likelihood that more invariant mental models shaped by especially position and disposition play an important role in explaining the way managers view and eventually implement management ideas.

Originality/value

The findings indicate the significance of cognitive factors in explaining managers’ attitudes toward ideas, and advance the understanding of the variety in managers’ responses toward these ideas, particularly in implementation trajectories.

Citation

Van Rossem, A., Heusinkveld, S. and Buelens, M. (2015), "The consumption of management ideas: a cognitive perspective", Management Decision, Vol. 53 No. 10, pp. 2356-2376. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-03-2014-0121