A Method for Diagnosing the Causes of Escalating Commitment

Authors

  • Steven Coy University of Houston – Downtown
  • Candace TenBrink University of Houston – Downtown
  • Douglas te Duits University of Houston – Downtown

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33423/jabe.v22i12.3878

Keywords:

business, economics, escalating commitment, influence diagrams, decision making, practical application, National Health Service, Maersk

Abstract

Barry Staw’s (1981) model of escalating commitment is a well-known theoretical explanation of the underlying causes of a decision maker’s decision to recommit. This paper explores the diagnostic utility of Staw’s model and proposes an extended version of the model with a step-by-step approach for using it as an analytical tool. The proposed analytical approach is illustrated using two case studies in which escalating commitment is evident. This study repurposes and extends a well-known, but essentially forgotten, theoretical model and demonstrates how the approach can be used as a diagnostic tool when it is applied to different decision making scenarios.

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Published

2020-12-16

How to Cite

Coy, S., TenBrink, C., & te Duits, D. (2020). A Method for Diagnosing the Causes of Escalating Commitment. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 22(12). https://doi.org/10.33423/jabe.v22i12.3878

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Section

Articles