Top Manager's Efficacy Beliefs and Organizational Outcomes: An Application of Social Cognitive Theory

Abstract

Top managers have been an area of active research in strategic

management. The difficulty in accessing top manager has limited

researchers to focusing on top managers demographic characteristics to

explore their influence on organizational outcomes. These demographic

characteristics have been considered as surrogates of top managers

cognition. However this approach has critical limitations (Markoczy,

1997), and a cognitive approach will enhance our understanding of top

managers influence on the organization. Recognizing this issue, I

propose a cognitive approach to top management research. Specifically,

top managers efficacy beliefs are conceptualized based on Social

Cognitive Theory. Further, I develop several propositions on the effects

of top manager efficacy beliefs on organizational outcomes.