Forty-eight decision points were identified across all 16 transcripts. Examples of decision points included choosing a candidate for promotion, mentally labeling a candidate as one type or another, and testing/verifying assessments. Each decision was initially classified according to the strategy that was used (recognitional, rational, or unknown). The majority of decisions (94%) were classified as re-cognitional. One strategy was unrecognizable (2%), and two were classified as rational/analytic strategies (4%). The two rational strategies involved weighting the selection criteria for all candidates, assigning them a value, comparing across candidates, and making decisions based on this methodical outcome. The recognitional strategies
were indicative of recognition-primed decision making in that they did not involve
any systematic assessment of candidates against specific criteria or comparisons of
candidates on these criteria.