Cognitive and Temperament Predictors of Executive Ability: Principles forDeveloping Leadership Capacity

摘要

This report completes phase I of a small business innovative research effort tomeasure and enhance cognitive skills. Prior research suggests that effective application of cognitive capacities is a crucial requirement for high-level organizational leadership. Skill in solving ill-defined problems is also important. Because problem situations often require novel approaches, their solutions necessitate creative input. This report describes research to identify cognitive skill and temperament factors that contribute to executive performance and to develop measures for them. A taxonomy was developed that had 13 leadership behavior dimensions related to discretionary and creative problem solving. Three validation studies of this taxonomy were conducted. Sixty-five cognitive and temperament predictors of executive ability were derived from the taxonomy and organized into 11 dimensions: general cognitive intelligence, creativity, crystallized cognitive skills, adaptability/ego resiliency, openness/curiosity, self-awareness, achievement, need for dominance, commitment to social systems, practical intelligence, and social intelligence . Two studies of the validity of the taxonomy were done, the first using background data instruments and the second using critical incidents. The report describes this research and provides the infrastructure required for programmatic interventions targeting the development of these capacities and recommendations for follow-up research to evaluate the interventions.... Leadership, Cognitive skills, Leader development, Background data, Measurement.