The diverse conceptualizations, operationalizations and measurements of uncertainty and structure may explain the inconsistent findings obtained for the contingency model. To examine this possibility, the present study simultaneously applies multiple measures of uncertainty and organizational structure using both factor analysis and Smallest Space Analysis to identify the underlying dimensions of those constructs and examine their interrelationships. Results obtained via both methods are compared and their relative merits discussed, and implications for organization and management are delineated.
ALEXANDER, A. J.Control practices, Academy of Management Journal, 1991, 34(1), 162-193.
2.
BARR, P. S., STIMPERT, J. L., & HUFF, A. S.Cognitive change, strategic action, and organizational renewal. Strategic Management Journal, 1992, 15-36.
3.
BURNS, T., & STALKER, G. M.The management of innovation. Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1961.
4.
CHILD, J.Organization structure and strategies of control in a replication of the Aston study, Administrative Science Quarterly, 1972, 163-177.
5.
CHILD, J.Managerial and organizational factors associated with company performance part II: A contingency model. Journal of Management Studies, 1975, 12-28.
6.
DERMER, J. D.Budgetary control under uncertainty. Working Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1973.
7.
DEWAR, R., & WERBEL, J.Universalistic and contingency predictions of employee satisfaction conflict. Administrative Science Quartery, 1979, 24, 426-446.
8.
DOWNEY, H. K, HELLRIEGEL, D., & SLOCUM, W.Environmental uncertainty: The construct and its application. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1975, 20, 613-629.
9.
DOWNEY, H. K., HELLRIEGEL, D., & SLOCUM, W.Individual characteristics as sources of perceived uncertainty variation. Human Relations, 1977, 30, 139-149.
10.
DRAZIN, R., & VAN DE VEN H. A.Alternative forms of fit in contingency theory. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1985, 30, 514-539.
11.
DUNCAN, R. B.Characteristics of organizational environments and perceived environmental uncertainty. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1972, 17, 313-327.
12.
ELIZUR, D.Facets of work values: A structural analysis of work outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1972.
13.
EMERY, F. E., & TRIST, E. L.Environment, technology and the administrative intensity of manufacturing organizations. American Sociological Review, 1973, 38, 750-763.
14.
FREEMAN, H. J.Environment, technology and the administrative intensity of manufacturing organizations. American Sociological Review, 1973, 38, 750-763.
15.
FRY, L. W., & SLOCUM. W.Technology, structure and workgroup effectiveness: A test of a contingency model. Academy of Management Journal, 1984, 27, 221-246.
16.
GALBRAITH, J. R.Organizational design. Reading MA: Addison-Wesley, 1977.
GUTrMAN, L.A general non-metric technique for finding the smallest coordinate space for a configuration of points. Psychometrica, 1968, 33, 461-469.
19.
GUTTMAN, L.What is not what in statistics. The Statistician, 1977, 26, 81-107.
20.
HAGE, J., & AIKEN, M.Relationships of centralization to other structural properties. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1967, 69, 32-40.
21.
HICKSON, J. D., HININGS, R. C., McMILLAN, J. D., & SCHWITTER, P. J.The culture-free context of organization structure: A tri-national comparison. Sociology, 1974, 18, 59-80.
22.
HREBINIAK, G. L., & SNOW, C. C.Research notes: Industry differences in environmental uncertainty and organizational characteristics related to uncertainty. Academy of Management Journal, 1980, 23(4), 750-759.
23.
ISRAELI, D.Franchising and the total distribution system, 1972. London: Longman.
KARNI, E. S., & LEVIN, J.The use of Smallest Space Analysis in Studying scale structure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1972, 56, 341-346.
26.
KATZ, R.Past and present in work life. The Hague: Roeland, N.V., 1972.
27.
KELLER, T. R., SLOCUM, J. W., & SUSMAN, G.Uncertainty and type of management system in continuous process organizations. Academy of Management Journal, 1974, 17(1), 56-67.
28.
KERLINGER, F. N., & PEDHAZUR, E. J.Multiple regression in behavioral research. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973.
29.
KIESLER, S., & SPROULL, L.Managerial response to changing environments: Perspectives on problem sensing from social cognition. Academy of Science Quarterly, 1982, 27, 221-246.
30.
KIM, J. O., & MUELLER, C. W.Factor analysis: Statistical methods and practical issues. Beverly Hills: SAGE Publications , 1978.
31.
KOBERG, S. C.Resource scarcity, environmental uncertainty and adaptive organizational behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 1987, 30(4), 798-807.
32.
KOBERG, C. S., & UNGSON, G. R.The effects of environmental uncertainty and dependence on organizational structure and performance: A comparative study. Journal of Management, 1987, 13(4), 725-737.
33.
KOPP, D. G., & LITSCHERT, R. J.A buffering response in light of variation in core technology, perceived environmental uncertainty, and size. Academy of Management Journal, 1980, 32, 252-266.
34.
LAWRENCE, P. R., & LORSCH, J. W.Organizations and environment: Managing differentiation and integration. Graduate School of Business Administration: Harvard University, 1967.
35.
LINCOLN, R. J., HANADA, M., & McBRIDE, K.Organizational structures in Japanese and U.S. manufacturing. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1986, 31, 338-364.
36.
McDONOUGH, F. E., & LEIFER, R.Using simultaneous structure to cope with uncertainty. Academy of Management Journal, 1983, 727-735.
37.
MILLER, C. C., GLICK, W. H., WANG, Y., & HUBER, G. P.Understanding technology-structure relationships: Theory development and meta-analytic theory testing. Academy of Management Journal, 1991, 34(2), 370-399.
38.
MILLIKEN, F. J.Three types of perceived uncertainty about the environment. Academy of Management Review, 1987, 12, 133-143.
39.
MILLIKEN, F. J.Perceiving and interpreting environmental change: An examination of college administrators' interpretation of changing demographics. Academy of Management Joumal, 1990, 33(1), 42-63.
40.
MOHR, L. B.Organizational technology and organizational structure. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1971, 18, 444-459.
41.
NEGANDHI, A., & REIMAN, B. C.A contingency theory of organization re-examined in the context of a developing country. Academy of Management Journal, 1972, 15, 137-145.
42.
PENNINGS, J. M.The relevance of the structural contingency model for organizational effectiveness. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1975, 20, 393-407.
43.
PENNINGS, J. M.Structural contingency theory: A multivariate test. Organization Studies, 1987, 8(3), 223-240.
44.
PERROW, C.A framework for the comparative analysis of organizations. American Sociological Review, 1967, 32, 194-208.
45.
PFEFFER, J., & LEBLEBICI, H.The effect of competition on some dimensions of organizational structure. Social Forces, 1973, 52, 268-279.
46.
PFEFFER, J., & SALANCIK, G.The external control of organizations. New York: Harper & Row, 1978.
47.
RONEN, S., & SHENKAR, O.Clustering countries on attitudinal dimensions: A review and synthesis. Academy of Management Review, 1985, 10, 435-454.
48.
RONEN, S., KRAUT, A. I., LINGOES, J. C., & ARANYA, N.A nonmetric scaling approach to taxonomies of employee work motivation. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1979, 14, 387-401.
49.
SCHLESINGER, I. M., & GUTTMAN, L.Smallest space analysis of intelligence and achievement tests. Psychological Bulletin, 1969, 71(2), 95-100.
50.
SCHNEIDER, S. C., & DE MEYER, A.Interpreting and responding to strategic issues: The impact of national culture. Strategic Management Journal, 1991, 12, 307-320.
51.
SCHOONHOVEN, C. B.Problems with contingency theory: Testing assumptions hidden within the language of contingency theory. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1981, 26, 349-377.
52.
SCOTT, W. R.Effectiveness of organizational effectiveness studies. In P. S. Goodman and J. M. Pennings (Eds.), New perspectives on organizational effectiveness. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1977.
53.
SCOTT, W. R., FLOOD, A. B., EWY, W., & FORREST, W. H.Organizational effectiveness and the quality of surgical care in hospitals. In M. W. Meyer and Associates (Eds.), Environments and organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1978.
54.
SHORTELL, S. M.The role of environment in a configurational theory on organizations. Human Relations, 1977, 30, 275-302.
55.
SIMON, H. A.The new science of management decision. New York: Harper & Row, 1960.
56.
THOMPSON, J. D.Organizations in action. New York: McGraw Hill, 1967.
57.
TOLBERT, S. P.Institutional environments and resource dependence: Source of administrative structure in institutions of higher education. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1985, 30, 1-13.
58.
TOSI, H. L., & SLOCUM, J. W.Contingency theory: Some suggested directions. Journal of Management, 1984, 10, 9-26.
59.
TOSI, H. L., ALDAG, R., & STOREY, R.On the measurement of the environment: An assessment of the Lawrence and Lorsch environmental uncertainty subscale. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1973, 18, 27-36.
60.
TUNG, R. L.Dimensions of organizational environments: An exploratory study of their impact on organization structure. Academy of Management Journal, 1979, 22(4), 672-693.
61.
VAN DE VEN, A. H., & DELBECQ, A. LDeterminants of coordination modes within organizations. American Sociological Review, 1976, 41, 322-338.
62.
VAN KNIPPENBERG, A., & SIERO, F.Multivariate analysis: Beknopte inleiding en toepassingen. Deventer: Van Loghum Slaterus BV, 1980.
63.
WALTON, E. J.The comparison of measures of organization structure. Academy of Management Review, 1981, 6, 155-160.
64.
WEICK, K E.Organizational culture and high reliability. California Management Review, 1987, 29, 112-127.
65.
WOODWARD, J.Management and technology. London: HM Stationary Office, 1958.
66.
YASAI-ARDEKANI, M.Effects of environmental scarcity and munificence on the relationship of context to organizational structure. Academy of Management Journal, 1989, 32, 131-156.
