From threat-rigidity to flexibility - Toward a learning model of autogenic crisis in organizations

Complementing Prior research by Staw et al. ("Threat-rigidity effects in organizational behavior: a multilevel analysis",Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 26 No. 4, 1981, PP. 501-24), the authors develop a new conceptual model of organizational change, "autogenic crisis". The authors' update of Staw et al.'s threat-rigidity model shows that top managers may initiate strategic "pre-adaptations" to future crises, thereby rising latent threat to generate organizational flexibility, learning, renewal and, possibly, longer life.