Contingency Theory [Sessions 2 & 3]

Olusegun Olomofe [2010/PhD/001] Problems with Contingency Theory: Testing Assumptions hidden within the language of Contingency Theory [Claudia Bird Schoonhoven] The authors main purpose in this paper is to highlight the problems of Contingency Theory by testing traditional contingency hypotheses along with hypotheses developed from five problems of the theory which are Lack of Clarity, Contingency Relations as Interactions, Functional Forms of Interaction, The Analytical Model Used, and the Assumptions about Contingency Relationships. Schoonhoven uses Galbraiths 1973 theory arguments since it is has a lot of strengths compared to the work of other contingency theorists. The study was carried out on the surgical transformation process in the operating room suites of 17 acute-care hospitals in the U.S. In order to eliminate as much bias as possible, the hospital sizes varied widely (from 99 to 638 beds), as did the expense ratio ($28,000 to $56,000 annual expenses per bed), teaching status (only six of the hospitals were affiliated with a medical school or had an active house staff program) and geographical location (10 states and all major regions of the continental U.S. were represented). Schoonhovens findings were consistent with her hypotheses that the ambiguity and lack of clarity of contingency theory makes it questionable, however, my concerns are that her study is only based on one industry in one country, therefore her study is limited and so are her results which brings us back to the beginning her findings could have been contingent on her methodology, so are we any clearer now than we were before?

Review Essay: The Alchemist of Contingency Theory [John F. Padgett] The author of this paper is reviewing Information and Organisations, Arthur Stinchcombes book on Contingency Theory. His main purpose is to give an unbiased and detailed explanation of what and what not to expect from the book. Although he criticises Stinchcombes omission of some of the important factors in Contingency Theory (such as Power and Culture) and his generally flat use of information throughout the book, Padgett praises his dynamic use of information in his treatment of Class Consciousness and his deconstruction of both the sales and labour sides of the concept of market, although this seemed a bit back-handed as he described it as almost unintentional, implying that Stinchcombe only stumbled on it. In general though, Padgett gives Stinchcombe a positive review and hails the book as one which should not be misjudged as just another variation of contingency theory but as a revolutionary transformation to which close attention should be paid.