Joan Woodward was a pioneer in organization theory, and in this episode we explore her seminal work Industrial Organization: Theory and Practice, originally published in 1965. The book presents the results of an extensive longitudinal study of the technologies, processes, and systems used by over one hundred industrial firms concentrated in southeast England over a ten year period. The studies produced a finding that successful firms did not follow a single ‘best way’ to manage the firm, but that each had an optimal way based on the congruence or alignment between the technologies and the processes & systems to manage them. This included differences among firms regarding the dominance of marketing, research and development, and production; variations in status of employees among various roles, and variations in how success is measured. Follow-on studies examined how firms underwent transformational change from one form of industry to another, largely confirming the prior results.

In contrast to prevailing beliefs at the time, Woodward’s book concludes with what is now known as contingency theory, that there is no single perfect way to organize any industrial firm. Instead, the best way is contingent on the internal and external context.

Join us as we discuss this important text that represented one of the largest and most comprehensive look at industry in the mid-20th century. Could such large, complex research projects be done today? Listen to what Tom, Frithjof, Greetje, and Leonardo have to say about it!

Part 1. Not All Industrial Organizations are Alike?

Part 2. The Meaning and Relevance of Contingency Theory

Read With Us:

Woodward, J. (1980). Industrial organization: Theory and practice, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

To Know More:

TAOP Episode 58: Academy of Management Workshop LIVE on the Contingency Approach

TAOP Episode 16: Contingency Theory: Lawrence and Lorsch