Osonjima, T.
Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management, Rivers
State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Email: Osonjimat@gmail.com
Oparanma, A. O.
Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management, Rivers
State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
and
Ogbondah, E. H.
Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Administration and Management, Rivers
State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship between uncertainty avoidance and innovative work behavior in Petrochemical Companies in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study utilized a Crosssectional.
The population of the study was five thousand five hundred (5,500) employees from the two (2) Petrochemicals Companies located in Rivers State. The Taro Yamen’s formula was used to determine the sample size which is 373. Structured questionnaire, designed in Likert five-point scales was used in collecting primary data from the respondent. Its reliability was ascertained through Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient with a threshold of 0.70. Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Coefficient statistical tool was used for the bivariate analysis. The study findings revealed that uncertainty avoidance positively influences innovative work behavior—specifically idea generation, opportunity exploitation, and idea championing in petrochemical companies in Rivers State. Employees are more innovative when operating within structured but supportive environments that reduce ambiguity. The study concludes that moderate uncertainty avoidance fosters a balanced climate that supports innovation by providing clarity without stifling creativity. It recommends that organizations:
(1) offer clear yet flexible guidelines to encourage idea generation; (2) build structured systems to support opportunity exploitation; and (3) create channels for employees to champion and promote new ideas.
Keywords: Uncertainty avoidance organizational culture and innovative work behavior.