For example, an opposing
form of control is called for to hinder the negative
effect of relying solely on OC. Mechanistic forms of control,
through coordinated action plans, will have an indirect
positive effect by preventing the exploration of alternative
undesired options and ideas, something that could otherwise
escalate into negative spirals (Argyris and Schön,
1983; Sundaramurthy and Lewis, 2003), and ultimately
make the project team unmanageable. These direct and
indirect effects of OC and MC create the necessary imbalance
of forces that is believed to favor innovativeness, and
also make project performance more focused and effectual.
Therefore, mechanistic and organic forms of control
are believed to mutually reduce the undesired side effects
of the respective opposing control mechanism and enable
the positive effects of the respective opposite strategy to
be fully realized to create synergy. For this reason, a multiplicative
(rather than an additive) effect of these two types
of project control on project performance is posited in this
study.