Comparing Comparative Studies on Organizations: Patterns of Incompatabilities

The problem of contradictory theoretical conclusions yielded by comparative studies on organizations is discussed, based on past research. The similarities & differences of 10 comparative studies conducted over the last 18 years, examining at least 16 organizations & analyzing at least 5 organizational characteristics, are examined, & the studies analyzed according to the diversity of organizational characteristics, the completeness of approach, & position on a continuum from size-effect approach to technological-effect approach. However, this model does not permit any justifiable conclusions about the compatibility of these studies. Incompatibility of comparative organizational studies creates difficulties in discerning whether results actually reflect differences in organizational reality, or merely in the research tools employed. 2 Tables, 2 Figures, 36 References. D. Graves.