Choosing Executives : A Research Report on the Peak Selection Simulation

by Deal, Jennifer J.; Sessa, Valerie I.; Taylor, Jodi J.

• ISBN13: 9781882197514
• ISBN10: 1882197518
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-06-01
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Summary

Failure rate for senior executives is high; consider the frequent stories in the press about yet another CEO who has been fired or has resigned prematurely. Hypothesizing that the selection process is inadequate, CCL researchers used the Peak Selection Simulation to ask 621 decision-makers specific questions about how they use interviews, HR information, and search firm reports to select top-level candidates. This report, containing thirty figures and tables and a comprehensive reference list, documents this research and provides useful insights that can lead to better selection outcomes.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables	vii
Preface	ix
Executive Summary	xi
Introduction	1	(2)
Description of the Peak Selection Simulation (PSS)	1	(1)
Research Questions	2	(1)
Overview and Audience	2	(1)
Methods	3	(5)
Participants	3	(1)
Procedure	3	(3)
Materials	3	(2)
Data Collection	5	(1)
Development of Measures	6	(1)
Individual Differences Measures	6	(1)
Dependent Variable Measures	6	(1)
Analyses	7	(1)
Results	8	(17)
Section 1: Descriptive Statistics	8	(1)
Individual Differences	8	(1)
Dependent Variables	8	(1)
Section 2: Search Strategy	9	(2)
The Search Data	9	(1)
The Search Strategy	9	(1)
Effects of Demographics on Search	10	(1)
Summary	10	(1)
Section 3: Attention to Candidates	11	(5)
Time Spent on Candidates	11	(1)
Effects of Demographics on Candidate Search	11	(4)
Summary	15	(1)
Section 4: Attention to Categories of Information	16	(5)
Time Spent on Information	16	(1)
Effects of Demographics on Category of Information Search	16	(4)
Summary	20	(1)
Section 5: Effects on Candidate Ranking	21	(4)
Types of Transitions	22	(1)
Time on Candidates	22	(1)
Time on Type of Information	22	(1)
Effect of Demographics on Candidate Rankings	23	(1)
Summary	24	(1)
Discussion	25	(6)
Research Questions	26	(1)
What Affects Candidate Rankings?	27	(2)
Future Directions: Naturalistic Decision Making and Image Theory	29	(2)
References	31	(2)
Appendix A: The Peak Selection Simulation	33	(6)
Appendix B: Descriptive Statistics	39	(12)
Appendix C: Literature Review	51