Structural Contingency Theory - a Reappraisal

Abstract

This paper presents a reappraisal of structural contingency theory. After a brief review of its major elements, it discusses a number of unresolved issues and explores possible avenues of new work. The unresolved issues are organizational and environmental dimensions versus typologies, statistical modelling for testing contingency arguments, level of analysis and discretion. Concepts such as chaos, agency and self-designing organizations are explored for suggesting new areas of conceptual and empirical development. The usefulness of the theory is also examined in this context. Finally new applications in organization behavior are proposed. Specific illustrations of application are organizational decision making and innovation. In the end the author intimates that such applications could be an impetus for new lines of contingency research.