Development and validation of a measure of work decision styles

Purpose This paper aims to develop a contextualized measure of decision style to assess a person's decision-making tendencies in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach Four studies examined the content, structural, construct, criterion-related, and incremental validity of the Work Decision Style (WDS) measure. Study 1 provides content validity ratings for the initial item pool. Study 2 refines the scale to 20 items via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. IRT analyses show strong measurement precision for all 20 items and useful test information for each dimension. Study 3 shows that WDS scale scores converge with scores on other general decision-making measures and correlate predictably with external correlates. Study 4 provides criterion-related and incremental validity evidence for the WDS predicting self-reported job performance criteria. Findings The WDS is a reliable and valid measure of analytical, intuitive, collaborative, and decisive work-related decision-making styles. Research limitations/implications The WDS allows for job-relevant and nuanced prediction of work-related criteria, facilitating future research on decision styles in work contexts. Investigation of the WDS alongside varied work decision-making tasks, situations, and outcomes will improve our understanding of how each style functions in context. Practical implications The WDS is a decision-making style measure specifically developed and validated for a work context. It is uniquely relevant for application in organizational settings, a critical domain in which to understand and improve decision-making. Originality/value We are unaware of an existing, valid, measure of decision styles for use in a work setting. The work-related decision-making style (WDS) measure fills this gap, facilitating the measurement and understanding of decision-making styles in the workplace.