Managerial Cognition and an Application to Disease Clusters
Open Access
Author:
Reese, Diana Lynne
Area of Honors:
Management
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
James Thomas, Thesis Supervisor James B Thomas, Thesis Supervisor Charles C Snow, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
market research strategic management disease clusters managerial cognition
Abstract:
Disease cluster analysis is conducting almost strictly using statistical analysis, and is by nature subjective and inconsistent. The narrow focus and simple “lens” used for establishing cause-effect linkages promotes unsupported and ambiguous conclusions.
In-order to get away from these prescribed methods and use of constrained cognitive maps, and thus constrained conclusions, this thesis seeks to introduce some new methodologies for investigating disease clusters. This thesis introduces the idea of using “new” cognitive lenses, drawing upon tools from strategic management and market research. These fields both work to establish cause-effect linkages, in their own fields, and thus can be effective in establishing cause-effect relationships in disease cluster analysis. These tools would provide a new perspective as to how make the cognitive shift that would be needed to make disease cluster analysis more effective and consistent. In the collective, these new ways of “seeing” the problem and making sense of each situation may have a profound effect on the field.
