The development of an instrument for measuring mental model styles with US managers

This paper reports on the development and initial validation of an instrument intended to measure manager's mental model styles. This research describes instrument development using a group of subject matter experts, and preliminary validity assessments using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis techniques. Data were collected from a sample of US managers and initial results are provided and discussed. While there is good preliminary evidence for emerging factor structures, significantly more data will need to be collected from a variety of cultural and industrial contexts to support the development of a useful instrument.