Article
Signposts for problemistic search: Reference points and adaptation in rugged landscapes
Zeijen, A., Romagnoli, M., & Marengo, L. · 2025 · Strategy Science, 10(3), 263–279
Summary
The article studies how reference points guide organizational search and adaptation in complex environments. The authors model how aspiration levels and survival points shape which parts of a search landscape managers consider desirable, acceptable, or unacceptable. They show that reference points can guide adaptation, but they can also trap organizations in inferior areas if the thresholds restrict search too much.
Method
Simulation model using an extension of the NK rugged landscape framework.
Limitations
The findings are based on a formal simulation model, so they simplify real organizational behavior and require empirical validation.
Future research
Future research could test how real organizations set aspiration and survival points, how managers interpret feedback, and how reference points affect adaptation in different competitive environments.
APA 7 citation
Zeijen, A., Romagnoli, M., & Marengo, L. (2025). Signposts for Problemistic Search: reference points and adaptation in rugged landscapes. Strategy Science, 10(3), 263–279. https://doi.org/10.1287/stsc.2023.0072