Comparative Structural Analysis
These theorists focused more on quantitative and descriptive accounts of organizational structures (unlike the contingency theorists who were more qualitative and prescriptive). Some of the leading researchers in this field are Udy (1959), Woodward (1965) and Pugh et al (1969). The collected data on large samples of organizations rather than individuals or subunits and tried to find dependent and independent variables in the dataset (especially size, technology, and uncertainty).

These theorists assume that organizations are trying to rationally design their structures, striving for the most effective or efficient ones (Scott p. 106).