Taking the mystery out of intuitive decision making

Authors:
  • LBLisa A. Burke
    Lisa A. Burke
  • MMMonica K. Miller
    Monica K. Miller
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Abstract
Executive Overview Making decisions by intuition is increasingly viewed as a viable approach in today's business environment. Intuition may be beneficial in certain scenarios, and at times may be the primary decision approach available. To investigate the use of intuition in decision making, we interviewed 60 experienced professionals holding significant positions in major organizations across various industries in the U.S. The executives provided rich descriptive insights about intuitive decision making. They discussed the nature of intuition and how it is developed, how often they use intuition and how they are prompted to do so, and the types of workplace situations in which intuition is used. The interviews were used to develop a descriptive profile of those using intuition in the workplace and to document the perceived quality and benefits of intuitive decisions.