Strategic decision making has been a widely covered topic in a number of fields. While some researchers have concentrated on the"content" of strategic decisions, others have looked at the"process" of strategic decision making. A review of recent strategy-related literature shows that researchers disagree not only on how strategic decisions are made, but what strategic decisions are as well. In an attempt to understand how strategic decisions are made in manufacturing organizations, this study builds on data collected from strategy-related literature and from interviews with practicing managers. These data were used to develop a conceptual model showing the variables affecting strategic decisions and the relationships between these variables. In addition to the conceptual model, this study makes recommendations to practicing managers in manufacturing organizations on how the outcome of strategic decisions can be improved. Finally, based on the results obtained in this study, recommendations for future research in strategic decision making are provided. / Master of Science

The purpose of this research was to conduct an exploratory study of the information processing utilized by incubator-housed manufacturers during channel member selection. The study included the evaluation of the decision models used by the manufacturers as well as criteria used in the selection process. The study was specifically designed to achieve the following objectives. First, the research was to identify the evaluation modes used by the manufacturers as either compensatory or noncompensatory. Second, the study was to evaluate the effect of the task on the selection of the evaluation model(s) used during the channel member selection process. Third, the study was to evaluate the effect of the selected decision strategy on the amount of information used during the decision process. Finally, the study was to identify and examine the importance of the criteria used by the manufacturers in the selection process. The methodology in this study consisted of primary research using protocol analysis as the main data gathering technique. A ranking instrument was also mailed to the respondents prior to the protocol session. The population for the study was identified as all manufacturers located in publicly-sponsored business incubators. A total of 235 incubators were in existence with approximately 47 percent of them being publicly-sponsored. Approximately 42 percent of the incubators house at least one manufacturing firm. It was estimated that there were approximately 46 manufacturing firms located in public incubators. A sample of six was used in this study. The statistical analysis included frequencies, cross tabulations, correlations, paired comparisons, and measures of association. The findings of this study suggest that the incubator-housed manufacturers' choice of evaluation models was not affected by the task nor did the selected strategy influence the amount of information used by the manufacturers. The findings indicate a need for further research to evaluate the relationships brought forth in this study. Based on the conclusions and findings of this study, recommendations for further research were given.