1.2 Evidence-based Decision making

Question 1

The goal of evidence based management is

Answer 1

Goal: to improve managers’ (staffing) decision quality.

Question 2

Evidence based management means

Answer 2

translating principles based on best evidence into organizational practices.

Question 3

Big ‘E’ evidence

Answer 3

generalizable knowledge regarding cause-effect connections derived from scientific methods (ex. Specific goal setting works).

Question 4

Little ‘e’ evidence

Answer 4

data systematically gathered in particular setting to inform local decisions (ex. Rigorous situational assessment/job analysis).

Question 5

Why do managers resist evidence-based management?

Answer 5

 Undermines formal authority.
 Constrains ability to make decisions (unwanted info)
 Speed of decision over accuracy (extra work)
 Diminishes previous experience value.
 Lack of understanding.
 Uncertainty regarding info quality.

Question 6

Evidence-based managers are:

Answer 6

E-MACS
o Empirical: Rely on data to inform decisions
o Multidisciplinary: Incorporate/aggregate info from different sources
o Adaptable: Update decision when better info available
o Cautious: Express predictions in probabilistic terms/consider options
o Self-critical: Acknowledge limitations of own abilities/avoid overconfidence

Question 7

What are the Prominent Bias in Staffing

Answer 7

(PCO AW)
Primacy/Recency Effect; Confirmation bias; Overconfidence/optimism; Attractiveness; Weight bias

Question 8

Primacy/Recency Effect:

Answer 8

when integrating observations, first and last observations will have greater effect on overall rating. (cognitively easier)

Question 9

What factors affect primacy/recency bias?

Answer 9

Factors: extraversion, appearance, verbal/nonverbal cues, applied social skill, ingratiation

Question 10

What is confirmation bias?

Answer 10

seeking or interpreting evidence in ways partial to existing beliefs, expectations. Search for supportive info.

Question 11

T/F: Older workers are less motivated and receptive to change.

Answer 11

False

Question 12

What are some forms of confirmation bias

Answer 12

• Considering only one single possible explanation
• Overweighting positive confirmatory instances
• Preferential treatment of evidence supporting belief
• Only looking for positive cases

Question 13

Pre-decision Information Distortion

Answer 13

Prior to deciding, an individual begins to favor a choice option and this tentative preference shifts subsequent info.

Question 14

Internship (Swider study) example

Answer 14

First 2 weeks of recruitment biggest impact (Swider study). Attraction differed within 2 weeks for organizations accepted offer vs. rejected.

Question 15

What is overconfidence and what does it lead to

Answer 15

tendency to be too confident in own abilities
* Drive to risky decisions
* Credit self for success; less for failure. Discount role of luck.

Question 16

What is optimism and what doe it lead to

Answer 16

underestimate likelihood of bad events
* Planning fallacy: new project will take less time/resources than they actually do.
* Expect to live longer, have exceptionally talented kids, etc.
* Leads to workplace safety issues: failure to prepare/reduced compliance

Question 17

Attractiveness and what its correlated with

Answer 17

ascribe more favorable personality traits/success to attractive people
 Perceptions of social competence, social skills, intelligence, potency, adjustment, dominance, integrity, general mental health.
 Attractive is correlated with intelligence.

Question 18

Weight based bias and impact on hiring

Answer 18

 Obese viewed as less desirable, conscientious, agreeable, emotionally stable, extraverted and more inactive/lazy.
 No evidence for differences in personality characteristics based on weight.
 Heavier males more successful / thin females more successful
 Bias exists in hiring, but decreases with more info  Performance promotion