ABSTRACT
The value of exchanging theory and methods between naturalistic decision making (NDM) and the fields of cognitive science and organizational studies has been growing in recognition (see Chapters 10 and 16; Gore, Banks, Millward, & Kyriakidou, 2006; Lipshitz, Klein, & Carroll, 2006; McAndrew, 2008; McAndrew, Gore, & Banks, 2009; Montgomery, Lipshitz, & Brehmer, 2005). Devoted to this emerging interface, the recent special issue in Organization Studies “Naturalistic Decision Making and Organizational Decision Making: Exploring the Intersections” (edited by Lipshitz et al., 2006) is a testament to the mounting appreciation of cross-disciplinary dialogues in NDM across domains as diverse as healthcare (Gore et al., 2006; Nemeth, O’Connor, Klock, & Cook, 2006), design practices in Internet organizations (Alby & Zucchermaglio, 2006), railroad operations (Roth, Multer, & Raslear, 2006), nuclear power plants (Carroll, Hatakenaka, & Rudolph, 2006), and submarine command and control (Shattuck & Miller, 2006). As demonstrated by Strater et al. (Chapter 10 of this volume) and the work of Kester, Badke-Schaub, Hultink, and Lauche (2007), Khoo (2007), and Vanharanta, Easton, and Lenney (2007), the integration of constructs from the organizational and cognitive sciences can be useful in fostering a better understanding of how experts manage and adapt to cognitively complex tasks. For other applications, see the Montgomery et al. (2005) edited volume How Professionals Make Decisions, which includes discussions on NDM in relation to recruitment and selection (Gore & Riley, 2005), economic forecasting (Montgomery, 2005), and managerial decision making (Goitein & Bond, 2005). While the work of Strater et al. and of those included in the special issue of Organization Studies and recent discussions at the 8th International Conference of Naturalistic Decision Making demonstrate empirical NDM approaches within organizational settings to be undeniably insightful, the work documented in this chapter marks a different approach, preferring to examine the potential of direct methodological exchange.
