Management 624
High
Performance Work Systems
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Management 624
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Tolerance for Ambiguity Purpose: In the current turbulent work environment, which is full of ambiguity and complexity, the ability to tolerate ambiguity, and to be comfortable with it, is a critical “career survival skill.” The following scale measures an individual’s tolerance or intolerance for ambiguity. Tolerance for ambiguity may be defined as “the tendency to perceive ambiguous situations as desirable”; intolerance for ambiguity may be defined as “the tendency to perceive (i.e., interpret) ambiguous situations as sources of threat.” An ambiguous situation has been defined as “one which cannot be adequately structured or categorized by the individual because of the lack of sufficient cues” (all quotes from Budner, 1962). Ambiguous situations may occur because the individual experiences a completely new situation in which there are no familiar cues; a complex situation in which there are a great number of cues to be taken into account; or a contradictory situation in which different elements of cues indicate that there may be many ways of organizing the incoming information (This usually occurs in situations of high novelty or complexity, or when there are difficult decisions to make or problems to solve.). Information from this assessment instrument may be used in assessing career orientation, leadership, problem-solving orientation, conflict management style, and other dispositions. To determine your level of tolerance (intolerance) for ambiguity, respond to the following items. PLEASE RATE EVERY ITEM; DO NOT LEAVE ANY ITEM BLANK. Rate each item on the following 7-point scale:
Your ID Number: Sources:
Exercise adapted from Bowen, D. D., Lewicki, R. J., Hall, D. T., & Hall, F. S.
1997. Experiences in Management and Organizational Behavior. New York: John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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