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Gresov, C. (1989). 'Exploring Fit And Misfit With Multiple Contingencies'. Administrative Science Quarterly 34(3): 431.
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A multiple-contingencies theory is proposed that simultaneously examines the impacts of task and dependence on unit design and efficiency. This theory investigates and forecasts the conditions under which work-unit designs fail to fit their contexts. The proposed multiple-contingency approach specifically focuses on issues like:
1. misfit,
2. conflicting contingencies, and
3. equifinality.
Data to test the model are obtained by Van de Ven and associates in 1975 from 529 work units in 60 employment-security offices located in California and Wisconsin. Data are all measured with the Organization Assessment Instrument (Van de Ven and Ferry, 1980). Findings show that a multiple-contingencies approach:
1. provides additional information about patterns of design in work units,
2. isolates instances in which equifinality could be observed, and
3. gives further insight into the phenomenon of misfit.
Units facing conflicting contingencies are more likely to design misfit and lower performance.