What is the Competing Values Framework?

The Competing Values Framework, proposed by Robert Quinn and Rohrbaugh, is a theory that identifies two major dimensions underlying conceptions of organizational effectiveness of leaders.

What are the Competing Values in Organizational Effectiveness?

• The first dimension is related to organizational focus, from an internal emphasis on the well-being and development of people in the organization towards an external focus on the well-being and development of the organization itself.
• The second dimension differentiates the organizational preference for structure and represents the contrast between stability and control and flexibility and change. Together the two dimensions form four quadrants.

What are the Models of Organization and Management Theory? 

Each quadrant of the framework represents one of four major models of organization and management theory:

• Human Relations Model. Places a lot of emphasis on flexibility and internal focus. It stresses cohesion, morale, and human resources development as criteria for effectiveness.
• Open Systems Model. Emphasizes flexibility and external focus, and stresses readiness, growth, resource acquisition and external support.
• Rational Goal Model. Emphasizes control and an external focus. It regards planning, goal setting, productivity and efficiency as being effective.
• Internal Process Model. Emphasizes control and an internal focus, and stresses the role of information management, communication, stability and control.