Managerial Search Activity: The Impact of Perceived Role Uncertainty and Role Threat

Abstract

This empirical study examines both the individual and combined effects of role uncertainty and role threat on managerial information search activity. Results from a survey of 215 managers in six organizations suggest that search is a function of a complex interaction between levels of uncertainty and threat in the role context. Findings suggest that previous conceptualizations of the relationships among uncertainty, threat, and search activity may have been overly simplistic.