POL 601: Public Management

ChatGPT: The structural contingencies theory in organizational theory is a perspective that holds that there is no one best way to organize a business, but rather that the optimal structure depends on various factors or contingencies, such as the environment, the strategy, the size, the technology and the culture of the organization²³. The theory suggests that organizational performance is enhanced when the structure fits the contingencies, and that different structures are appropriate for different situations²⁴. The theory also implies that organizations need to adapt their structures to changing contingencies over time.

• Drazin, R. and Van de Ven, A. (1985). Alternative Forms of Fit in Contingency Theory. Administrative Science Quarterly; 30:4, 514-539.
• Gresov, C. (1989) Exploring fit and misfit with multiple contingencies. Administrative Science Quarterly, 34: 431-453.
• Bradshaw, P. (2009). A contingency approach to nonprofit governance. Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 20(1): 61-81

ChatGPT: Configuration theory is a perspective in organizational research that focuses on the patterns of arrangements or configurations of organizational elements, such as structures, processes, and cultures, rather than on individual elements themselves. It suggests that organizations are not just a sum of their parts but rather a complex system of interdependent components that work together to achieve specific objectives.

• Greenwood, R. (2008). Configuration theory. In S. Clegg, & J. Bailey (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Organization Studies. (pp. 249-253). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE

• Andrews, R., Beynon, M. J., & McDermott, A. M. (2015). Organizational Capability in the Public Sector: A Configurational Approach. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Volume 26, Issue 2, April 2016, Pages 239–258, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muv005
• Shumate, M., Dougherty, S.M., Miles, J-P, Boyer, A-M., Wang, R. Gibson, Z.M., and Cooper, K.R., (2023) “Network Effectiveness in Context.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muad003
• Raab, J., Mannak, R. S., & Cambré, B. (2013). Combining Structure, Governance, and Context: A Configurational Approach to Network Effectiveness. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.