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L'Influence de l'âgisme sur la prise de décision: la perception des cadres supérieurs*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Daniel Tremblay
Daniel Tremblay
Affiliation:
Université du Québec à Hull
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Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the relationship between aging and decision-making. Specifically, it deals with managers' views on the hypothetical effects of age and experience on decision behaviour. Do the numerous beliefs and stereotypes related to the supposed effects of aging (i.e. agism) affect the decision-making process and its results? Are younger managers more creative, quicker or more audacious than older managers? Are the experienced managers more skilled, cautious or pragmatic than the less experienced ones? Given the fact that mean age of managers in many contemporary public organizations is rising, further information is needed on how this trend will affect the behaviour and state of mind of public managers who make daily decisions bearing important economic and social consequences. To investigate these questions, interviews were conducted with managers employed by Quebec's public service. These interviews were aimed at collecting data about the way managers themselves perceive the effects of aging on decision behaviour. Results indicated that managers do not readily link age and decision behaviour. However, the relationship between experience and decision behaviour is perceived as comparatively strong. The relevancy of further research on the effects of experience on decision behaviour and, more generally, on the effects of experience on working abilities is discussed.

Keywords

Àgismestéréotypeperceptionâgeexpériencedécision.AgismStereotypePerceptionAgeExperienceDecision
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , Automne/Fall 1995 , pp. 464 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1995

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