Designing and validating a model of managers' cognitive flexibility in order to improve decision effectiveness (Case study: Tehran metropolitan service organizations)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student in Management, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch

2 Associate Professor, Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch

Abstract

Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability of an individual to change cognitive sets and adapt to the changing environment of the individual. Cognitive flexibility in managers is very important for increasing the effectiveness of decision-making. Managers with high cognitive flexibility can quickly change their strategies in response to market conditions, technologies, or organizational dynamics. Therefore, the present study aimed to Designing and validating a model of managers in order to improve the effectiveness of decisions. The present research method is based on a mixed approach and is qualitative and quantitative in the inductive-deductive paradigm. In the qualitative part of the research, using semi-structured interviews with 19 organizational and academic experts in organizational behavior management and psychology, the findings were analyzed and the present model was designed. Accordingly, by analyzing the content of interviews and research using the 2020Maxqda software, the relevant dimensions were extracted and the importance and priority of each were determined using the Shannon entropy technique. The statistical population is the quantitative section of senior managers of service organizations in the Tehran metropolis, which was used to validate the research model. Based on the research approach, 3 aspects, 35 components, and 137 codes were extracted. Managers must first gain a detailed understanding and awareness of the antecedents of managers' cognitive flexibility and consider the relevant strategies to achieve the identified outcomes. In this study, the cognitive flexibility model of managers was presented in the form of 35 components, and the validity of the research model was measured and confirmed using partial least squares and Smart PLS software. Since a comprehensive model for managers' cognitive flexibility has not been presented so far, this study can be useful in developing the literature in the field of research and explaining the importance of cognitive flexibility in decision-making.

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 05 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 14 June 2026
  • First Publish Date: 14 June 2026
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2026

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