Clothed in various formulations, the question of “coherence” is central to management control. Thus it is widely accepted that different forms of control “cannot be used effectively in every situation” (Merchant, 1998: 32, 69) – a statement referring to the contingency framework. It is...

In this case study, we analyze in a French public company the adoption mode of a new management control system pertaining to New Public Management principles. We compare the formal system designed and deployed in the organization, the discourses of its promoters and users and the observed...

This paper argues that organization change programmes are frequently backed by appeals to "coherence" – this understood as a harmonious fit between different variables (strategy, policies, management systems) conducive to better performance. In comparison recourse to psychological notions of...