Contingency theory in construction - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:29, 9 December 2020

2020-12-09T07:29:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:29, 9 December 2020
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	* Value management.		* Value management.

−	[[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Construction_management]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Construction_management]]

Editor at 19:27, 20 February 2019

2019-02-20T19:27:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:27, 20 February 2019
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	However, the complex nature of construction projects necessitates a careful and considered approach, keeping in mind the possible implications of changing the management system.		However, the complex nature of construction projects necessitates a careful and considered approach, keeping in mind the possible implications of changing the management system.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Code of practice for project management.		* Code of practice for project management.
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	* Fuzzy logic.		* Fuzzy logic.
	* Game theory.		* Game theory.
		+	* Monte Carlo simulation.
	* Pareto analysis.		* Pareto analysis.
	* Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA).		* Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA).

Editor at 16:30, 27 June 2018

2018-06-27T16:30:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 27 June 2018
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	* Game theory.		* Game theory.
	* Pareto analysis.		* Pareto analysis.
		+	* Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA).
	* Planning.		* Planning.
	* Project manager.		* Project manager.

Editor at 15:26, 24 April 2018

2018-04-24T15:26:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:26, 24 April 2018
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	* Conflict avoidance.		* Conflict avoidance.
	* Construction organisation design.		* Construction organisation design.
		+	* Environmental scanning.
	* Fuzzy logic.		* Fuzzy logic.
	* Game theory.		* Game theory.

Designing Buildings at 14:57, 26 March 2018

2018-03-26T14:57:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:57, 26 March 2018
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−	Contingency theory is a theory ~~of organisation that is~~ based around the idea that the role of a project manager is to establish the best possible fit between the organisation, its environment and ~~various~~ sub-systems.	+	Contingency theory is an organisational theory based around the idea that the role of a project manager is to establish the best possible fit between the organisation, its environment and sub-systems.

−	~~Central to the theory~~ is that many management theories may be appropriate in a particular situation, but no single approach will work successfully in all circumstances. Instead, internal and external situations will determine the optimal course of action~~, making~~ it particularly appropriate for construction which, with its typically uncertain and non-routine site environment, will ~~likely~~ benefit from a management model that is more adaptive and flexible.	+	It is founded on the belief that many management theories may be appropriate in a particular situation, but no single approach will work successfully in all circumstances. Instead, internal and external situations will determine the optimal course of action. This makes it particularly appropriate for construction, which, with its typically uncertain and non-routine site environment, will typically benefit from a management model that is more adaptive and flexible.

−	~~Some of~~ the ~~situational variables~~ that ~~might influence an organisation’s actions in designing a management structure~~ are:	+	Contingency theory encompasses the idea of open systems, i.e. systems that have external interactions - such as construction. Open systems are capable of reaching the same objective from different initial conditions and by following different paths (organisational structures). This is known as the equifinality of open systems.

−	* The nature of the ~~operation.~~	+	Project managers must ‘satisfice’ (a combination of the words 'satisfy' and 'suffice'), that is, they must find a solution which is sufficient to satisfy the specific project criteria – in order to identify a route which optimises the performance of the system and sub-systems.
−	* The strategy an organisation adopts.	+
−	* Environment.	+
−	* Desired outcomes.	+

−	Contingency theory encompasses the idea of open systems, i.e. one that has external interactions. Construction is an open system. Open systems are capable of reaching the same objective from different initial conditions and by following different paths (i.e. organisational structures). This is known as the equifinality of open systems.	+	However, the complex nature of construction projects necessitates a careful and considered approach, keeping in mind the possible implications of changing the management system.
−		+
−	Project managers must ‘satisfice’ – find a solution which is sufficient to satisfy the minimum acceptable criteria – in order to identify a route which optimises the performance of the system and its sub-systems. Although it is incumbent on project managers to try and improve this optimisation, the complex nature of construction projects necessitates a careful and considered approach ~~to predicting~~ the ~~likely~~ implications of changing the management system.	+

	= Find out more =		= Find out more =

Editor at 16:46, 19 March 2018

2018-03-19T16:46:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:46, 19 March 2018
Line 20:		Line 20:
	* Code of practice for project management.		* Code of practice for project management.
	* Conflict avoidance.		* Conflict avoidance.
		+	* Construction organisation design.
	* Fuzzy logic.		* Fuzzy logic.
	* Game theory.		* Game theory.

Editor at 16:44, 19 March 2018

2018-03-19T16:44:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:44, 19 March 2018
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	* Code of practice for project management.		* Code of practice for project management.
		+	* Conflict avoidance.
		+	* Fuzzy logic.
	* Game theory.		* Game theory.
	* Pareto analysis.		* Pareto analysis.

Editor: Created page with "Contingency theory is a theory of organisation that is based around the idea that the role of a project manager is to establish the best possible fit between the organisation, it..."

2018-03-19T16:38:56Z

Created page with "Contingency theory is a theory of organisation that is based around the idea that the role of a project manager is to establish the best possible fit between the organisation, it..."

New page

Contingency theory is a theory of organisation that is based around the idea that the role of a project manager is to establish the best possible fit between the organisation, its environment and various sub-systems.

Central to the theory is that many management theories may be appropriate in a particular situation, but no single approach will work successfully in all circumstances. Instead, internal and external situations will determine the optimal course of action, making it particularly appropriate for construction which, with its typically uncertain and non-routine site environment, will likely benefit from a management model that is more adaptive and flexible.

Some of the situational variables that might influence an organisation’s actions in designing a management structure are:

* The nature of the operation.
* The strategy an organisation adopts.
* Environment.
* Desired outcomes.

Contingency theory encompasses the idea of open systems, i.e. one that has external interactions. Construction is an open system. Open systems are capable of reaching the same objective from different initial conditions and by following different paths (i.e. organisational structures). This is known as the equifinality of open systems.

Project managers must ‘satisfice’ – find a solution which is sufficient to satisfy the minimum acceptable criteria – in order to identify a route which optimises the performance of the system and its sub-systems. Although it is incumbent on project managers to try and improve this optimisation, the complex nature of construction projects necessitates a careful and considered approach to predicting the likely implications of changing the management system.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===

* Code of practice for project management.
* Game theory.
* Pareto analysis.
* Planning.
* Project manager.
* Risk management.
* Value management.

[[Category:Theory]] [[Category:Construction_management]]