ORGS 2100 - Class 7: Learning & Decision-Making

What is learning?

relatively permanent knowledge / skill / behaviour change from experience

What is the learning & decision making relationship?

learning impacts decision making

What is decision making?

generating & choosing alternative process

What is 1 example of a reason that inexperience can be problematic?

learning ≠ necessarily easy

What is expertise?

expert v.s. novice knowledge / skill

What explains how one can tell when people have learned?

observe behaviour

What are the knowledge types?

• explicit knowledge

>

• tacit knowledge

What is explicit knowledge?

easily available knowledge

What is tacit knowledge?

// intuition // skill // insight // belief // mental model // practical intelligence

learned experience knowledge

What are the explicit knowledge characteristics?

• easily transferable

• readily available

• can learn through book

• always conscious / accessible & general info

What are the tacit knowledge characteristics?

• difficult / impossible to articulate

• highly personal

• experience base

• sometimes not recognized by holder

• job- / situation- … specific

What may be the most important strategic company asset?

tacit knowledge

What ways do employees learn knowledge?

• reinforcement

• observation

• experience

What is operant conditioning?

learning by linking voluntary behaviour & consequence

What is the operant conditioning process?

1. antecedent

2. behaviour

3. consequence

⟳

What is an antecedent?

condition before behaviour

What is a behaviour?

employee action

What is a consequence?

result after behaviour

What operant conditioning component primarily drives behaviour?

consequence

What is a contingency of reinforcement?

consequence to modify behaviour

What are the contingencies of reinforcement?

• positive reinforcement

• negative reinforcement

• punishment

• extinction

What contingencies of reinforcement increase desired behaviour?

• positive reinforcement

• negative reinforcement

What contingencies of reinforcement decrease undesired behaviour?

• punishment

• extinction

What is positive reinforcement?

• added consequence

• increased desired behaviour

→

• wanted outcome

What are the most common contingencies of reinforcement?

1. positive reinforcement

2. extinction

What is negative reinforcement?

• removed consequence

• increased desired behaviour

→

• unwanted outcome

What is punishment?

• added consequence

• decreased undesired behaviour

→

• unwanted outcome

What is extinction?

• removed consequence

• decreased undesired behaviour

→

• wanted outcome

What is a schedule of reinforcement?

add / remove consequence time

What are the schedules of reinforcement?

• continuous reinforcement

• fixed interval

• variable interval

• fixed ratio

• variable ratio

What is continuous reinforcement?

reward after each desired behaviour

What is the simplest, rapidest, & least long lasting schedule of reinforcement?

continuous reinforcement

What is continuous reinforcement’s potential performance level?

high

• difficult to maintain

What is interval-based?

based on time

What is fixed interval?

reward after fixed time

What is fixed interval’s potential performance level?

average

What is variable interval?

reward after variable time

What is variable interval’s potential performance level?

moderate high

What is fixed ratio?

reward after fixed desired behaviour number

What is fixed ratio’s potential performance level?

high

What is variable ratio?

reward after varable desired behaviour number

What is variable ratio’s potential performance level?

very high

What are the interval-based schedules of reinforcement?

• fixed interval

v.s.

• variable interval

What is the most common schedule of reinforcement?

fixed interval

What is behaviour-based?

reinforcement based on behaviour

What is social learning theory?

one learns by observing other

What is the primary way one gains knowledge?

social learning

What is behavioural modeling?

1. one observes’ other’s action

2. learn

3. repeat other’s action

What is the modelling process?

1. attention process

2. retention process

3. production process

4. reinforcement

What is the best way to acquire tacit knowledge?

modelling

What is an attentional process?

one focuses on model

What is a retention process?

one remembers model behaviour once no longer present

What is a production process?

one has skill & reproduces behaviour

What is reinforcement in social learning theory & behavioural modelling?

one views model receiving reinforcement & receives himself

What can reinforcement in social learning theory come from?

• observation

&/

• experience

What are the goal orientations?

• learning orientation

>

• performance-prove orientation

• performance-avoid orientation

What is learning orientation?

build competence > prove experience

What is performance-prove orientation?

prove competence so other thinks favourable

What is performance-avoid orientation?

prove competence so other doesn’t think poor

What is a programmed decision?

// intuition // gut feeling

automatic decision between maker’s knowledge & situation & action recognition

What is the programmed decision process?

1. identify problem

2. recognize pattern

3. implement solution

4. does solution deliver?

What is the rational decision making nonprogrammed decision process?

1. identify problem

2. recognize pattern

3. determine criteria making decision

4. generable available alternative

5. evaluate alternative against criteria

6. choose max solution

7. implement solution

8. does solution deliver?

What is 1 crisis key factor example?

quick decision

What questions do managers who make decisions face?

• how they ensure other follows

• how they confirm faulty intuition

What is Karl Weick’s intent process & communication?

1. manager perceives situation

2. make task-focused statement of what manager wants

3. give reason

4. ensure correct intuition

5. confirm everyone understands role

What is a nonprogrammed decision?

new decision

What is the rational decision-making model?

step-by-step decision making maximizing nonprogrammed decision outcome by examining alternative

What problems arise when examining rational decision-making model assumptions?

• problem & identifiability

• perfect info

• time & money ≠ issue

What are the most common bad decision making reasons?

• limited info

• faulty perception & attribution

• escalation of commitment

What is bounded rationality?

people don’t have ability to process all info

What bounded rationality problems arise for decision making?

• filter / simplify

  • miss info

• satisfice

What is satisfice?

choose 1st considered alternative

What should rational decision makers do?

1. identify problem

2. develop alternatives

3. simultaneously evaluate

4. use accurate info

5. pick maximized alternative

What is bounded rationality likely to do?

1. boil down problem

2. come up with similar solutions

3. evaluate as one thinks

4. distort info during eval

5. satisfice

What is selective perception?

see environment as it affects

What is projection bias?

decision maker thinking other’s act

What problems arise when examining selective perception assumptions?

limit ability to develop criteria

What is social identity theory?

people identify / judge according to belonging groups

What explains when stereotypes can be especially problematic?

affect who one thinks is suited for leadership

What is role congruity theory?

lack of fit between stereotype & expected role requirement

What is 1 counteracting bias example?

• objective hiring / promoting criteria

  • evaluate without knowing identity

What is a heuristic?

rule of thumb allowing one to easily decide

What is availability bias?

judge easier recall info

What are some well-researched decision-making bias examples?

• anchor

• frame

• representativeness

• contrast

• recency

• ratio effect

What is an anchor?

make decision relying too heavily on 1 trait

What is a frame?

make decision on phrased question / situation

What is representativeness?

make decision assessing event likelihood by comparing to similar event

What is contrast?

make decision judging based on near reference

What is recency?

make decision weighting recent event more

What is ratio effect?

make decision judging unlikely event as lower when presented in small number ratio

What is fundamental attribution error?

judge other behaviour due to internal factor

• ability

• motivation

• attitude

What is self-serving bias?

• own failure → external factor

v.s.

• own success → internal factor

What explains why blame might be different depending on the world part?

East Asia

• group = entity

v.s.

North America

• acting individual

What is the attribution process model?

familiar other → more detailed decision frame

What questions does the attribution process model ask?

• consensus

• distinctiveness

• consistency

What questions does the attribution process model relate to high external attribution if high?

• consensus

• distinctiveness

What questions does the attribution process model relate to high internal attribution if high?

• consistency

What is escalation of commitment?

continue following failing act

What is 1 escalation of commitment explanation example?

obligation to avoid looking incompetent

What is 1 escalation of commitment solution example?

leader change