Chapter 15 The Organization Structuration theory Flashcards
Author
Giddens
tradition(2)
Cybernetic, socio-cultural
Communication context(2)
Small groups + organizational
Approach to knowing
Positivist/emperical
Overall theory
Organizations create structures(rules and resources to substring group) - result in social systems.
Organizations achieve life of their own because of the ways members use their structure.
- Groups and organizations are produced and reproduced through actions and behaviors.
- Communication rules serve as both the medium for and an outcome of interactions
- Power structures in organizations which guide the decisions-making process
Organizing/organization
formal informal
How to quickest get knowledge, protection, problem solving
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Formal - hierarchy
Informal - e.g. more western. no fine clothe, open door til office, not so much hierarchy
Blueprint
how society is organized - under here:
blueprint of organization. How everything is done, structures, rules(routines), hierarchy, behavior- organization
implicit stated:Employee manual/explcit learned:Respect- everyone have a voice.
Feedback guide regulations
Adaptive Structuration Theory:
How task groups use and strategically adapt information technology, rules and recourses to accomplish group goals. – Used in this chapter is how this new technologies help optimize effectivity in information understanding like skype conference calls.
Structuration
The production, reproduction and transformation of social environments through rules and resources in relationship and To understand ones patterns of behavior - e.g. how a meating should be done, addressed formal or not?
Agency
the specific behaviors or activities that humans engage in, guided by the rules and context in which interaction takes take place. ”E.g. class
Agent
the person who engages in these behaviors. E.g. student
Organization engage in process: Reflexivity
a person ability to know and understand his or her actions or behavior- predict if changes in structure is necessary
The awareness to explain reasons for behavior/change occurs on two levels:
Discursive consciousness
Practical consciousness
Discursive: reason for activity /behavior easily put into words
Practical: Reason for behavior feelings e.g. is not easily explained
Relecivity: suggest change in structure from formal to informal and explain good experiences. - So this is also discursive.
Practical: difficult explain the warm feeling with having people talk to him by name, and that use of only last name make him feel old.
Duality of structure
Actions create structure and structure empower or limit further actions.
Rules and resources used to guide organizational decisions about behaviors or actions
Rules
How things should work and how to behave and understand different situations and what should be used to accomplishing goals - general routines that the organization or group follows in accomplishing goals.