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Competing Values in Organizations: Contextual Influences and Structural Consequences

Author

Listed:
  • Victoria Buenger

    (Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37203)

  • Richard L. Daft

    (Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37203)

  • Edward J. Conlon

    (Department of Management, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556)

  • Jeffrey Austin

    (USAFA/DFBL, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80840-5941)

Abstract

Managers recognize that they must satisfy a variety of demands, some contradictory. The authors investigated this circumstance using Quinn and Rohrbaugh's competing values model. They report the findings of a study that identified and measured the four competing values (internal process value, rational goal value, human relations value, and open system value) across organizations and investigated whether contextual and structural variables were systematically associated with those value sets.Data were gathered from a large sample of United States Air Force Commands. Results showed that the operating units pursued the four values defined by the model, but did not emphasize them equally. Certain environmental characteristics (information and resource scarcity and technological uncertainty) and aspects of the units' technology (their task routineness, workflow interdependence, and training complexity) were associated with organizational value sets. The values emphasized were associated in turn with the coordinating structure (vertical or horizontal coordination) adopted by the units.The study attempted to move the competing values model beyond theoretical concepts. The results confirm the competing values at work in organizations and also suggest that value sets differ from unit to unit. Certain patterns of values appear to exist within particular environmental and technological contexts. These findings indicate tradeoffs among values. Emphasizing some values may hamper pursuit of others. So when managers decide to give priority to programs designed to strengthen to the human relations value, efficiency and short-term profitability may drop off. Managers must be aware of this shifting balance. They must evaluate whether prescriptions for organizational success make sense. Decisions should reflect the organization's value structure (and its deficiencies), its technology, its environment, and its structure as well as show these elements fit together.

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria Buenger & Richard L. Daft & Edward J. Conlon & Jeffrey Austin, 1996. "Competing Values in Organizations: Contextual Influences and Structural Consequences," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(5), pages 557-576, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:7:y:1996:i:5:p:557-576
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.7.5.557
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Hardcopf, Rick & Liu, Gensheng (Jason) & Shah, Rachna, 2021. "Lean production and operational performance: The influence of organizational culture," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    2. Mercedes Rubio-Andrés & Carmen Abril, 2024. "Sustainability oriented innovation and organizational values: a cluster analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Ivan Malbašić & Carlos Rey & Vojko Potočan, 2015. "Balanced Organizational Values: From Theory to Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 437-446, August.
    4. Naor, Michael & Jones, Janine Sanders & Bernardes, Ednilson S. & Goldstein, Susan Meyer & Schroeder, Roger, 2014. "The culture-effectiveness link in a manufacturing context: A resource-based perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 321-331.
    5. Carsten Schultz & Oliver Gretsch & Alexander Kock, 2021. "The influence of shared R&D-project innovativeness perceptions on university-industry collaboration performance," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 1144-1172, August.
    6. Tor Guimaraes & Ketan Paranjape & Mike Cornick & Curtis P. Armstrong, 2018. "Empirically Testing Factors Increasing Manufacturing Product Innovation Success," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(02), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Bei Yan & Feng Mai & Chaojiang Wu & Rui Chen & Xiaolin Li, 2024. "A Computational Framework for Understanding Firm Communication During Disasters," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 35(2), pages 590-608, June.
    8. Humphrey Bourne & Mark Jenkins & Emma Parry, 2019. "Mapping Espoused Organizational Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 133-148, September.

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