Someone tells you there is a problem. Is there – how do you know? Someone says there are three options – how do they know? Decisions turn upon what people believe is reality, yet reality is a resource which can be manipulated to make power. Explores some of the techniques whereby decision...

Organizations often seem to persist with decisions long after any sensible person might have given up. It is thought that such persistence results from foolhardy behaviour by decision makers motivated mainly by emotional factors such as pride and fear of failure. Analyses a case of a failing...

Reports how two years ago, Management Decision readers were left in suspense concerning the mystery of two solicitors’ firms facing impending bankruptcy. Explains that the two firms responded to their respective crises by adopting diametrically opposed survival strategies, although both seemed...

The collapse of project Taurus, the London Stock Exchange’s £500 million IT venture, ranks as one of the major fiascos of business history. This paper highlights key mistakes in the project’s design and construction and discusses their implications for management.

The traditional image of a good leader is someone who is resolute and decisive. Research, however, indicates that the so‐called “macho manager” approach to decision making is potentially counterproductive because it not only leads to hasty choices but prevents withdrawal when decisions...

This paper explores a phenomenon known as entrapment. Entrapment refers to situations where people become “locked into” decisions through the passage of time as distinct from actively re‐investing in failing projects. The present study examines Becker’s so called “side bets” theory...

Examines a case study of an unsuccessful employment decision. Explains that although it was apparent soon after the appointment that the employee’s performance fell short of expectations, the employer (a lone trader responsible only to himself), persisted with the appointment for over a year,...