Preview

Contingency Theory

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
737 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Contingency Theory
CONTINGENCY THEORY

CONTINGENCY THEORY IS A CLASS OF BEHAVIORAL THEORY THAT CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO BEST WAY TO ORGANIZE A CORPORATION, TO LEAD A COMPANY OR TO MAKE DECISIONS.

“THE BEST WAY TO ORGANIZE DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO WHICH THE ORGANIZATION RELATES.” William Richard Scott

CONTINGENCY THEORY TELLS US THAT AN ORGANIZATION IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN IT ADAPTS AND FITS ITSELF TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

CONTINGENCY THEORY IN A NUTSHELL
 Organizations are open systems that need careful management to satisfy and balance internal needs and to adapt to environmental circumstances
 There is no one best way of organizing. The appropriate form depends on the kind of task or environment one is dealing with.
 Management must be concerned, above all else, with achieving alignments and good fits
 Different types or species of organizations are needed in different types of environments

Fred Fiedler's Contingency Model
1. The leader-member relationship, which is the most important variable in determining the situation's favorableness
2. The degree of task structure, which is the second most important input into the favorableness of the situation
3. The leader's position power obtained through formal authority, which is the third most important dimension of the situation
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
An organizational structure consists of activities such as task allocation, coordination and supervision, which are directed towards the achievement of organizational aims. It can also be considered as the viewing glass or perspective through which individuals see their organization and its environment.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TYPES
Pre-bureaucratic structures
Pre-bureaucratic (entrepreneurial) structures lack standardization of tasks. This structure is most common in smaller organizations and is best used to solve simple tasks.
Bureaucratic structures
. They are better suited for more complex or larger scale

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    3. A leadership contingency theory that stresses the intelligence and experience of the leader is…

    • 705 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    MGT 291 Study Guide

    • 3932 Words
    • 16 Pages

    Contingency Approach= calls for using management concepts and technique in a situationally appropriate manner, instead of trying to rely on “one best way”…

    • 3932 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Week 1 Discussion 1

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages

    After reviewing all of the theories, there are several that can be applied towards a healthcare setting. However, the one I feel that I can most relate to and can be applied best is the contingency theory due to the fact that it is based upon several different aspects of an organization and is not too generalized or to specific like I feel some of the other theories are.…

    • 313 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For now I will try to explain three factors that will influence a leader on his leadership…

    • 274 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    innovation with in an organization. The first model to be discussed is the Contingency Theory,…

    • 2296 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Organizations are about people. People are the most valuable asset that an organization can possess to create success. The development of these people and the ability for an organization to retain talent can be complex. An organization must be organized to communicate and provide the structure necessary for growth and development. They must also have the people within the organization understand their ability to grow and the directions available within the organization for growth.…

    • 1452 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Path-Goal Theory

    • 3386 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Hughes, RL, GInnett, RC and Curohy, GJ (1998), ‘Contingency Theories of Leadership’. In GR Hickman, Leading Organization, Sage Publications Inc.…

    • 3386 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Contingency means that one thing depends on other things, and for a leader to be effective, there must be an appropriate fit between the leader's behaviour and style and the conditions of the situation.…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Zara International

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The contingency theory says that management effectiveness is contingent, that is, dependent, upon the interplay between the application of management behaviors and specific situations.…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Fiedler's contingency theory states that leadership is a trait and it is fixed. Because leadership is fixed the only variable items are the situational factors. Therefore for effective leadership the situational factors need to be changed instead of the leadership traits.…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The contingency theory concept is believed that the appropriate of management principles based on any situation only that it cannot take a set of ready-made principles to use to all situations. It can be concluded that there is no one best method or approach in management or doing things, different situation calls for different approach to manage, manage, and solve the concerned problem in an organisation. Management and organisation is an open system, which embrace anomalies or challenges every now and then, that requires adaptable and solution of situational in order to overcome or solve the concerned problem (Hai, Ibrahim, and Nawi, 2012). Therefore, in particular situations, entrepreneur or manager may determine particular principles to create conditions or methods in any particular situation. From Filcris’ management, this study found interesting issues on applies contingency theory such as Filcris has changed the customer service time base on major festivals time that Filcris has scheduled new opening times and deliveries from regular time is open 08.30 – 17.00 on Monday to Thursday and 08.30 – 15.00 on Friday, became to the last day Filcris will be shipping deliveries will be the 21st December, Filcris’ office closes on the 23rd of December at 12 noon, Filcris will reopen on Tuesday the 3rd of January, and any orders received after the 21st of December will be dealt with…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    leadership and governance

    • 1699 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Contingency theories of leadership focus on particular variables related to the environment that might determine which particular style of leadership is best suited for the situation. According to this theory, no leadership style is best in all situations. Success depends upon a number of variables, including the leadership style, qualities of the followers and aspects of the situation.…

    • 1699 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Procurement Methods

    • 4855 Words
    • 20 Pages

    According to the Encarta dictionary,” a leader is somebody who guides or directs others to achieve a goal”. “A leader is a person who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision, and the skills to make it happen. Let's look at each of those in detail”.A leader uses a wide variety of interpersonal skills to influence others to accomplish goals. “Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of an organization”.Simply put, “Leadership is organizing a group people to achieve a common goal”.CONTINGENCY THEORIESA contingency theory is about how leader traits or behaviors are related to leadership effectiveness in different situations. The leader’s situation may either enhance or weaken the effect of a leader’s traits and behaviors. Theories that explains leadership effectives in terms of situational change are called contingency theories of leadership. That is the context and whatever style the leader uses will determine his or her effectiveness.Mostly importantly the contingency theory stresses that leaders are not successful in all situations. Thus no leadership style is best in all situations.For example, the former President Jerry John Rawlings lost the 2000 elections in Ghana because at that point in time, Ghanaians wanted change from his autocratic style of leadership to a more democratic style. Thus Ghanaians were fed up with his autocratic style of leadership so he was not fit for that situation at that point in time and so he failed as a leader to Ghanaians. There are six types of contingency theories namely; * Path-goal theory * The multiple-Linkage model * LPC contingency * Leader substitutes theory * Cognitive resources theory * Situational Leadership theoryPath-Goal TheoryIt is…

    • 4855 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Structural contingency theory = given similar circumstances, the structure of an organization (= the basic patterns of control, coordination and communication), can be expected to be very much the same wherever it is located. Organizations must structure in responses to a series of demands or contingencies, posed by the scale/size of the operation, the technology employed and the environment within which operations take place.…

    • 11584 Words
    • 38 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Contingency Theory

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Contingency theory is a behavioral theory that claims that there is no single best way to design organizational structures. The best way of organizing e.g. a company, is, however, contingent upon the internal and external situation of the company.…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays