Contingency Approach

The Contingency Management theory evolved out of the Systems Approach to managing organizations. The Systems Approach advocate that managers recognize that organizations are systems comprising independent parts and that a change in one part affects the other parts too. This insight is important. However. over and above this, managers! should also see how the parts fit together to be more effective. The Contingency  Approach  can  help  one  better  understand their' interdependence. 

 According to the Contingency Approach, management is situational: so one best approach to management exists because each situation that a singer faces is too different. They are, however, of the view that  situations are often similar to the extent that some principles of management can be effectively applied. But for that appropriate principles are to be identified. This can be done first by identifying the relevant contingency variables in the situation and then evaluating those variables.

The major contributors to this school of thought are Mary Parker Foilet, Fiedler. Frement, Kast, James Rosenzweig, Katz, Robrt Kahn, Tom Burns, G.M. Stalker, Robert Lawrence and Richard Lawrence. This. is perhaps the best approach as it encourages management to search for the correct situational factors for applying appropriate management principles effectively.

To quote irrelevance "In essence, the contingency approach to management involves identifying the important contingency variables in different situations, evaluating the variables and all then  applying appropriate management knowledge and principles in selecting an effective approach to the situation." This is by far the best method for  analysis as it encourages the manager to find out the situational factors most appropriate for effective management in all situations.

Different scholars from different disciplines at different periods of time in the history of industrial revolution, growth and development have contributed to the different schools of management. Each scholar has taken great pains to stress on historic own point of view and point out weaknesses of other schools. This has created a lot of confusion and has given rise to a situation which has been termed by Harold Koontz as "The Management Theory Jungle." However, every theory or  approach highlights a particular aspect of management and helps managers address their tasks with a particular insight. As a relatively young and growing discipline. management has been undoubtedly benefiting from the contributions of all these schools of thought.