The threat-rigidity thesis in newly formed teams: An empirical test
Robert James Harrington, David J. Lemak, Kenneth W. Kendall · Journal of business and management. · 2002
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.