Business Atlas

How Enterprise Is Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Management Theory

Contingency Theory

Also Known As Contingency approach
Behavioral, Human Relations and Contingency Theories

An organizational theory holding that there is no single best way to organize a corporation, lead a company, or make decisions; the most effective approach instead depends on the situation. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Core Claim
There is no single best way to organize, lead or decide; the optimal course of action is contingent on the internal and external situation an organization actually faces. 1
Origin Year
1958 1
Classification
Topic (Functional Area)
Organizational Behavior 1
Connections

Associated With

The Fiedler Contingency Model is one of the founding formulations of contingency theory in leadership studies.

Source Wikipedia, Fiedler Contingency Model

Situational Leadership Theory applies the broader contingency approach to leader behavior and follower readiness.

Source Wikipedia, Situational Leadership Theory

Leadership research moved from trait-based explanations toward contingency theory's situational approach.

Source Wikipedia, Trait Theory of Leadership

Developed By

One of several key developers of contingency theory named by the entity's own cited source; Joan Woodward, also named there for the technology-determines-structure strand, is not yet a business-figure entity here.

Source Wikipedia, Contingency Theory
Sources
1. Wikipedia, Contingency Theory
Wikipedia
  • Lead section
    A contingency theory is an organizational theory that claims that there is no best way to organize a corporation, to lead a company, or to make decisions.
  • Core principle section
    The optimal course of action is contingent (dependent) upon the internal and external situation.
  • Key developers section, Joan Woodward
    technologies directly determine differences in such organizational attributes as span of control, centralization of authority, and the formalization of rules and procedure
  • Key developers section, Fred Fiedler
    Fred Fiedler (1993): Developed Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, focusing on how leader personality and situational favorableness determine effectiveness
  • History section
    the contingency approach to leadership
  • Introduction, functional area topic classification
    A contingency theory is an organizational theory that claims that there is no best way to organize a corporation, to lead a company, or to make decisions.
View the Source
Wikipedia, Fiedler Contingency Model
WikipediaAssociated With: Fiedler Contingency ModelView the Source
Wikipedia, Situational Leadership Theory
WikipediaAssociated With: Situational Leadership TheoryView the Source
Wikipedia, Trait Theory of Leadership
WikipediaAssociated With: Trait Theory of LeadershipView the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.