A study of the relationship between cognitive diversity and decision making outcomes, and the role of task conflict as the moderator of the relationship

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between cognitive diversity and decision making outcomes; in term of decision quality, understanding and commitment of academic staff at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai Johor. The role of task conflict as a moderator is also examined. This study used data collection method by using questionnaires and simple random sampling. A total of 185 questionnaires received were then analysed using Statistical Package for social Science (SPSS) 20.0 software. The findings are presented in the form of percentage and mean, coefficient of variation, correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. The study found that there is high level of cognitive diversity among academic staff and the highest cognitive diversity is in term of UTM’ strategies, following by UTM’s future directions and UTM’s goals while the lowest is in term of UTM’s objectives. Task conflict among academic staff are at moderate level. The findings also found that decision quality in UTM is moderate, while decision understanding and commitment of academic staff of UTM is high. In addition, it is found that there is significant relationship between cognitive diversity and decision making outcomes; in term of quality of decision, understanding and commitment of academic staff. Further, this study found that task conflict do not moderates the effects of cognitive diversity on decision quality, decision understanding and decision commitment.