This is a review of work done in the past twenty years with the Control
Graph, including the evolution of Control-Graph studies, its relationship
to other perspectives of organizations, and an overview of study findings.
These findings are reviewed within the context of contingency theory,
and attention is given to the use of the Control Graph in the implementa
tion and measurement of organizational change. Advantages of the Con
trol Graph for applied research are cited, including its integration with
theory, acceptance by practicing managers, and limited demand on re
spondent's time. Greater attention needs to be given, however, to the need
to tailor the instrument to each organization; systematic evaluation of its
use in survey feedback; its relationship to more objective measures of
control; and study findings that cannot currently be explained by con
tingency theory.
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