According to the contingency approach, the manager’s task is to identify which techniques will, in particular situation, under particular circumstances and at a particular time, best contribute to the attainment of management goals. Where workers need to be encouraged to increase productivity, for example the classical theorist may prescribe a new work simplification scheme. The behavioral scientist may instead seek to create a psychologically mutating climate and recommend some approach like job enrichment – the combination of tasks that are different in scope and responsibility, and allow the workers greater autonomy in making decisions. But the manager trained in the contingency approach will ask, Which method will work best here? If the workers are unskilled and training opportunities a resources are limited work simplification would be the best solution. However, with skilled workers driven by pride in their abilities, a job-enrichment program might be more effective. The contingency approach represents an important turn in modern management theory, because it portrays each set of organizational relationships in its unique circumstances.
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