Puddicombe, M S (2011) The contingencies of project management: A factor analytic approach to complexity and novelty. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 7(4), pp. 259-275. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
Contingency theory is one of the major theoretical perspectives in management research. Contingency theory argues that there is 'no one best way.' Superior performance results from matching managerial actions with internal organizational characteristics and external environments. This is contrary to much AEC research where there has been an attempt to identify 'the way' to manage a project. This article proposes that the adoption of a contingency theory perspective holds significant promise for AEC research. It focuses on internal project characteristics and argues that the project management activities need to match the novelty and complexity of the project if superior performance is to be achieved. A measurement model that captures project novelty and complexity is introduced. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are employed to explicate the model. Novelty and complexity are shown to be multifaceted constructs that define tangible characteristics of the project. The measurement model for novelty is seen to be much more robust than that developed for technical complexity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | complexity; contingency theory; factor analysis; novelty |
| Index terms: | project management, organizational characteristic, factor analysis, contingency theory, complexity, confirmatory factor analysis, management research |
| Subjects: | systems engineering, statistical analysis, sociology, project management theory and practice, research design and methodology |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Organizational Design, Engineering Principles, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 CTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here