The Contingency Theory of Strategic Conflict Management: Review from Three Decades of Theory Development, Extension and Application

Augustine Pang, Yan Jin, and Glen T. Cameron. (Forthcoming). “The Contingency Theory of Strategic Conflict Management: Review from Three Decades of Theory Development, Extension and Application.” Journalism and Communication Monographs.

Abstract: The contingency theory offers a perspective of how theory can explain, relate and capture interactions between an organization and its multiple publics in real-world issues. For the past three decades, it has emerged as an empirically tested perspective, grounded on how intuitive, nuanced, and textured strategic conflict management is practiced. It represented a paradigmatic shift in thinking from normative thought. This essay consolidates the theoretical development and explication by mapping out the key tenets of the theory. Second, it captures the growth of the theory through extension and application. The last section contemplates new directions as the theory develops.