Typology of the Eight Domains of Discretion in Organizations

Discretion (an individual's latitude of action) is a fundamental element of work, with extensive individual and organizational consequences. Research has demonstrated the importance of discretion, but there is not yet a mature theory of discretion in organizations. Towards that end, this paper derives a multidimensional typology of discretion in organizations, integrating previous empirical results and archival interview data. It is found that discretion comprises eight distinct domains. This eight‐part typology casts new light on previous findings and contributes towards a mature theory of discretion. This article discusses the circumplex structure of the eight domains and their potential utility in characterizing fundamental aspects of work.