Self-regulation capacity and decision making of Slovak managers in routine situations and in situations with possible negative outcomes

• Main Author: Peter Halama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovak Academy of Sciences, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences 2017-07-01
• Series: Studia Psychologica
• Subjects: self-regulation; decision making; managers; situational approach
• Online Access: http://www.studiapsychologica.com/uploads/HALAMA_SP_2_vol.59_2017_pp.156-168.pdf
• ISSN: 0039-3320; 2585-8815

The study focuses on the relationship between self-regulation and decision making of Slovak managers in work-related situations involving routine circumstances and circumstances where inappropriate decision may lead to possible serious negative consequences. 143 Slovak managers were asked to choose some work-related situation of decision making and to assess it on the scales provided (routine or not routine, with or without possible negative consequences). They were administered a Self-Regulation Scale (Schwarzer et al., 1999) and Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire (MDMQ) (Mann et al., 1997), adapted for the assessment of current decision making behavior. The results showed that self-regulation correlated positively with vigilant decision making and negatively with maladaptive decision making, such as buck-passing, hypervigilance, and procrastination. Moderation analysis revealed that situations with possible negative consequences weaken the relationship between self-regulation and both vigilance as well as maladaptive decision making.