Psychoanalytic thinking in business as a predictor of effective decisions – in the light of the Bion’s concept of thinking and refl ections about “O”

Applied psychoanalytical research

Abstract

Business is always connected with making of the decisions under the uncertainty. The most accurate mathematical model can only make approximations of the future, based on what has been observed in the past. But no model can forecast the future and guarantee that it will exactly match the forecast. Multivariance and uncertainty of the future always remains and generates anxiety. The success of the business at the same time directly depends on the quality and speed of the decision making, on its effectiveness. According to Bion’s concept of thinking the very process of decision making involves not only logical (conscious) thinking, but also emotional (unconscious) thinking, which initiates and completes the decision-making process, and accompanies it in between the beginning and the end. This article examines the infl uence of aspects of the unconscious on the effectiveness of business decisions.