Leaders are inundated with complex decisions in chaotic environments that have ripple effects across any organization. This project studies Department of Defense program managers to better understand how a program manager creates situational awareness and understanding in chaotic program environments. Using qualitative research and conducting face-to-face interviews, this project focuses on how program managers gain insight in the decision-making process. This study provides a greater level of insight into these issues and will be the basis of future research. This study focuses on the emergence of six categories—sensemaking, consensus-making, trust, tacit knowledge, explicit knowledge, and the environment. Understanding the fundamental principles that guide decision-making will help program managers make sense of complex and chaotic program environments.

Subjects: human behavior; decision-making process; operating in chaotic environments; situational awareness; insight