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Title: The threat-rigidity thesis in newly formed teams: An empirical test

Authors: Robert Harrington; David Lemak; K.W. Kendall

Addresses: Author address listing can be found in the "About the Authors" section at the end of the article.

Abstract: An empirical test of hypothesized interactions between external or internal attribution of threat and likelihood of success or failure for newly formed decision-making teams based on Staw, Sandelands, and Dutton's (1981) threat-rigidity thesis. Results suggest that both the level of threat and internal attributions of threat have a significant effect on decision-making processes. Specifically, groups in this study with either a higher level of threat or internal attribution of the threat used more rigidity in their decision-making processes. Rigidity was defined as a restriction of information and constriction of control within the group. Based on this initial test and the extant literature, future research is proposed.

Keywords: Threat-rigidity; decision-making teams; internal attribution; information restriction; control constriction.

DOI: 10.1504/JBM.2002.141080

Journal of Business and Management, 2002 Vol.8 No.2, pp.127 - 145

Published online: 05 Sep 2024 *