Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving

Making decisions is a key task for leaders and managers. Senior leaders are currently exposed to increasing amounts of data which they must process quickly in our current dynamic world. Complex factors in the business world are not always best approached through an analytical framework. Using tacit...

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Main Authors: Leonie Hallo, Tiep Nguyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Administrative Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/12/1/4
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author Leonie Hallo
Tiep Nguyen
author_facet Leonie Hallo
Tiep Nguyen
author_sort Leonie Hallo
collection DOAJ
description Making decisions is a key task for leaders and managers. Senior leaders are currently exposed to increasing amounts of data which they must process quickly in our current dynamic world. Complex factors in the business world are not always best approached through an analytical framework. Using tacit knowledge gained through intuition can enable a more holistic understanding of the deep nature of today’s problems. This paper takes an expansive view of decision-making with intuition right at the centre and canvasses understandings of intuition arising from philosophy, psychology, Western and Eastern beliefs; and proposes a model that relates intuition to other problem-solving approaches. The paper presents the results of interviews with senior leaders who must make difficult decisions in complex turbulent environments. The interview schedule is based on questions raised in a prior literature search concerning the relationship between intuition and analysis in complexity decision-making and problem-solving, the usefulness to this group of respondents, the possibilities of combining both approaches and any conflict arising from that combination, and understandings of the concept of intuition by these respondents. The resultant model presents a visual description of a process that moves from exterior assessment achieved via sensing and analysis, through to deeper understandings and a more holistic discernment gained through intuition. The model has the potential to assist leaders faced with difficult-to-solve problems in providing a better understanding of the steps involved in tackling problems of increasing levels of complexity.
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spelling doaj.art-90f3a6e3f60e4f5f99a2fa4ab9c40d652023-11-24T00:05:03ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872021-12-01121410.3390/admsci12010004Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-SolvingLeonie Hallo0Tiep Nguyen1Adelaide Business School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, AustraliaDepartment of Civil Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamMaking decisions is a key task for leaders and managers. Senior leaders are currently exposed to increasing amounts of data which they must process quickly in our current dynamic world. Complex factors in the business world are not always best approached through an analytical framework. Using tacit knowledge gained through intuition can enable a more holistic understanding of the deep nature of today’s problems. This paper takes an expansive view of decision-making with intuition right at the centre and canvasses understandings of intuition arising from philosophy, psychology, Western and Eastern beliefs; and proposes a model that relates intuition to other problem-solving approaches. The paper presents the results of interviews with senior leaders who must make difficult decisions in complex turbulent environments. The interview schedule is based on questions raised in a prior literature search concerning the relationship between intuition and analysis in complexity decision-making and problem-solving, the usefulness to this group of respondents, the possibilities of combining both approaches and any conflict arising from that combination, and understandings of the concept of intuition by these respondents. The resultant model presents a visual description of a process that moves from exterior assessment achieved via sensing and analysis, through to deeper understandings and a more holistic discernment gained through intuition. The model has the potential to assist leaders faced with difficult-to-solve problems in providing a better understanding of the steps involved in tackling problems of increasing levels of complexity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/12/1/4intuitionanalysisleadershipdecision-makingproblem-solvingcomplexity
spellingShingle Leonie Hallo
Tiep Nguyen
Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
Administrative Sciences
intuition
analysis
leadership
decision-making
problem-solving
complexity
title Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
title_full Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
title_fullStr Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
title_full_unstemmed Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
title_short Holistic View of Intuition and Analysis in Leadership Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
title_sort holistic view of intuition and analysis in leadership decision making and problem solving
topic intuition
analysis
leadership
decision-making
problem-solving
complexity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/12/1/4
work_keys_str_mv AT leoniehallo holisticviewofintuitionandanalysisinleadershipdecisionmakingandproblemsolving
AT tiepnguyen holisticviewofintuitionandanalysisinleadershipdecisionmakingandproblemsolving