Background and objective Disaster risk management against natural disasters is one of the major challenges for at-risk countries. Due to Iran’s geographical location, natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods occur frequently. This research aimed to examine both decision-making styles and attitudes of managers using the theory of reasoned action (TRA) simultaneously. The study focused on the role of mid-level managers in strategic decisions and investigated the relationship between subjective norms, attitudes, and decision-making styles in their intention to participate in disaster risk management.
Method This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 278 managers involved in disaster risk management in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. These managers were selected from a total population of 950 individuals using Morgan’s table. Stratified sampling based on gender was employed among managers from all government and non-government departments in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Data were collected using two questionnaires: The Scott and Bruce’s general decision-making style Inventory and a researcher-developed questionnaire based on the TRA. The findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and path analysis with SPSS software, version 22.
Results Of the 278 managers selected, 75% were male and 25% were female. Rational and dependent decision-making styles demonstrated the most significant relationship with the different dimensions of the TRA, external factors, and natural attitudes. Specifically, rational and dependent decision-making styles exhibited a significant relationship with a higher correlation coefficient (0.914) compared to other styles. In contrast, the “immediate” and “avoidant” styles showed a weak relationship with this model.
Conclusion The results highlight the importance of considering these decision-making styles in planning efforts to reduce the risk of natural disasters.