Date of Award

2002

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Business Administration

Department

Business

First Advisor

Daniel W. Kemper

Second Advisor

Rita Kottmeyer

Abstract

This thesis surrounds social cognition seen within group dynamics. Specifically, focusing on the study of decision - making and the impact gender and leadership styles has upon groups under risk involved decision - making. Th.is type of decision-making is generally seen with corporate committees and members involved in the formation of foreign policy.

Research has attributed to reprehensible historical :fiascoes to faulty group decision - making. Due to this notion, it is imperative to hone in on the cognitive process and the possible factors that act as antecedents to errors in judgement seen in groups.

Many results remain inconclusive when dealing with gender and the effect it bas on group cognition. Although, there has been interesting finds concerning faulty group decisions for the overall population, in exclusion of gender. Some theorists believe there may be differences in the way males and females solve problems in a group setting; others disagree. However, over the years evidence bas surfaced supporting notions that leadership variances effect a group's decision-making process, while many researchers concede to th.is, there are still others who remain ambivalent.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the possibility that within a group setting, males and females may use different strategies and interpretations when faced with a possible risky decision and leadership variances when attempting to resolve ethical and financial dilemmas. Specifically, it is hypothesized that an individual's gender will serve as a catalyst to errors in group decision -making, contingent upon the group's leadership style.

One hundred and twenty graduate and undergraduate students participated in the study, sixty-one females and fifty-nine males were placed in thirty groups, each consisting of four members. Half of the groups were in the nondisclosure condition, and the other was in the disclosure condition. The participants were administered 'A Scenario' for the purpose of measuring the differences between male and female group decision-making as well as the leadership conditions. Frequencies, crosstabulations, and two-way analysis of variance, analyzed data.

Results of analysis produced considerable evidence that, within this sample pool, male and female decision-making varied to some extent, and leadership styles certainly had a highly significant effect on group decision-making, in that they differ. However, results prompt the researcher to refine the hypothesis, particularly when looking at the leadership enhanced questions, where little gender differences exist, as opposed to risk taking enhanced questions.

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