June 1, 2013 Journal article Open Access

Returning to the Frontier of Contingency Theory of Organizational and Institutional Designs

Van de Ven, Andrew H.; Ganco, Martin; Hinings, C. R. (Bob)

Much has been learned, and even more needs to be learned, about designing organizations and institutions. Since the 1960s this research has evolved from contingency to configuration, to complementarity, to complexity and creative theories of organizing. This chapter reviews these evolving theories (better called perspectives) and urges scholars to return to the frontier of organization studies by addressing an important new agenda in designing organizations with promising new research methods.