Managers' problem-solving styles and organizational effectiveness of small businesses

Abstract

The primary purpose of this dissertation was to investigate possible relationships between problem-solving styles of managers and effectiveness of their organizations. Problem-solving styles were derived from Carl Jung's theory of psychological types. Effectiveness criteria were based on models developed by Kilmann and Herden, Parsons, and Pickle and Friedlander. Comparing the major components of the three organizational effectiveness models was the secondary purpose of this investigation. The objective in this case was to determine whether organizations would be ranked consistently in terms of effectiveness regardless of which model was applied. To test the hypotheses of this study, data was gathered from 150 small retail and manufacturing firms in Texas. Organizations eligible for the sample were located in counties within a 150-mile radius of College Station, Texas, which were not included in Standard Metropolitan S ta tis tic a l Areas. Sampled firms employed from 5 to 50 persons.