Michael Kirton

Adaptors and Innovators in Organizations

It is theoretically safe to expect that collective decision-making at the managerial level, in most organizations, will be adaptor-dominated to ensure, e.g., stability and continuity; however, the organizations themselves need not necessarily be adaptor-weighted, i.e., contain more adaptors than innovators. Specific hypotheses about particular subgroups within organizations are advanced, which predict variations in the proportions of adaptors and innovators within given organizational structures. Studies are presented supporting these hypotheses. The variations examined are derived from the adaptor/innovator means of managers in: (a) different departments of a company; (b) different companies; and (c) different management courses. These variations suggest that there may even be differences between the means of practitioners of particular occupations.

Adaptors and innovators—Why new initiatives get blocked

Abstract The Adaption-Innovation theory is concerned with differences in the thinking style of individuals, with particular reference to creativity, problem solving and decision making. These concepts will have particular relevance for managers, since they focus on the interaction between people and their often changing work environment, offering managers new information on, and insight into, the personality aspects of change in organizations. This article explains the theory, outlines its background and development and reviews some of the research and current thinking which have emerged from studies using a widely tested measure—the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory.

HAVE ADAPTORS AND INNOVATORS EQUAL LEVELS OF CREATIVITY

An earlier study posited contrasting styles of creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making on the level of a personality dimension (Kirton, 1976). Although it was possible to make a number of clear distinctions between adaptors and innovators, as those scoring at the extremes of the continuum were labelled, the theory explicitly denied that any differences should be found between these extreme scorers on level of creativity. The present study found only negligible differences.

THE ADAPTION-INNOVATION CONTINUUM, OCCUPATIONAL TYPE, AND COURSE SELECTION

Data on 2,375 subjects collected in 15 independent studies were cross-tabulated with reference to different occupational types and varying degrees of self-selection to courses. The results confirm the 1980 findings of Kirton and of Thomson that mean scores on the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory are more innovative for occupational groups which deal with more numerous and less rigid paradigms. The data also support the hypothesis that groups whose members have themselves taken the initiative to attend courses are on the average more innovative than groups sent by sponsoring organizations. The factors outlined above were additive and subtractive in regular and predictable increments.

Characteristics of High Lie Scorers

Evidence accumulates that high Lie scorers include both those who could be described as knowing dissemblers and those who are naive but honest. Further evidence for the existence of the latter group is here presented.

Adaptors, Innovators, and Paradigm Consistency:

562 subjects completed a test battery containing scales of Dogmatism, Inflexibility, Conservatism, and Intolerance of Ambiguity from which internal consistency coefficients were calculated. Adaption-Innovation theory suggests that (a) adaptors would be more concerned with consistency than innovators, (b) adaptors would be likely to choose and adhere to one of two specific strategies to help achieve high consistency, and (c) innovators would be more likely to switch between alternative strategies. Internal reliability coefficients of the responses of adaptors and innovators test by test and by whole battery are in accord with these predictions.

Relatedness of married couples' scores on "Adorno" type tests.

Researchers have been surprised and nonplussed by finding unexpectedly weak relationships between dogmatism and personal attraction. The present study of 64 married couples finds significant correlations between the scores of spouses on the Dogmatism Scale and on four other closely related tests, implying a clear positive relationship between dogmatism and personal attraction.

Levels of Self-Actualization of Adaptors and Innovators

Unexpectedly both high adaptors and innovators have low self-actualization scores.

Cognitive Style and Alcoholics: A Comment on Robertson, Et Al.

Errors and ways of extending work with alcoholics as reported by Robertson, Fournet, Zelhart, and Estes in 1987 and 1988 are noted.