The experience of responsibility -based management in decision making: A grounded theory study

This qualitative descriptive research study focused on the issue of responsibility in management decision making as it affects credibility in a leadership role. This study determined how managers interpret responsibility as a normative term in the decision-making process and how this contributes to the public consumer market worries about leadership credibility and executive turnover issues. Grounded theory research methodology was used with a triangulation data collection. Data were gathered from 18 executives in the Los Angeles to San Diego geographic region. The theory of responsibility-based management emerged from meticulous application of the coding techniques of grounded theory: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Results included a definition and understanding of responsibility from an action-oriented and management leadership strategy pertinent to the decision-making authority of managers. A significant result was this study also contributes to existing management studies on leadership credibility and responsibility by adding a different voice and view to the literature. Opportunity exists for raising awareness of and identifying critical elements of a new perspective for managing and leading.