Sue Kim is trying to decide which shoes to order for the next season. She has examined the sales reports and walked the sales floor. She thinks she has a good idea, but she still asks her staff at the next meeting though, just to be sure. She is using which contingency for employee involvement in decision making?

Source of decision knowledge refers to situation where employees must get involved in the decision making process because management doesn't have all the relevant information that they need to make the right decision. In this case, Sue should her salespeople about their opinions since they are the ones that deal with the customers.

Modern management tries to involve subordinates in the decision making processes. Management is not expected to follow their advice but it is always good to have second or third thoughts about some issue especially if employees can be affected by the decisions.

We also have to consider the fact that employees are in contract with our customers, not the upper management. Workers are also in charge of production activities, not upper management. So they can be a really good source of information.