Functionalism

Question 1

What is functionalism also known as?

Answer 1

Empiricism, positivism, naturalism

Question 2

To functionalism reality is?

Answer 2

Tangible, observable, and separate from the individual

Question 3

How functionalists gather data?

Answer 3

Conclusions about reality are to be drawn out on the basis of empirical evidence. Experiments, surveys, lab trials, observation of actual data.

Question 4

Functionalists believe that organizations are? 5 things

Answer 4

1) External to the individual (outside of you, can understand UWL minus you)
2) Static- (can be studied and controlled)
3) “containers”- (communication, money, power, culture) they can pick out the pieces and study them because they happen inside the container.
4) A unitary view is assumed (white house says, uwl will…)
5) Tendency toward a managerial bias (more important perspective)

Question 5

What role does communication play in an organization according to a functionalist?

Answer 5

• Communicating is a mean for information flow in the container
• The emphasis is on improving efficiency of message transmission through barrier identification and elimination. Content and delivery are secondary

Question 6

How do functionalists improve efficiency of message transmission?

Answer 6

Through barrier identification and elimination- content and delivery are secondary.

Question 7

What is rationality?

Answer 7

Ordering our world based on reason through observable facts.

Question 8

What is the relationship of rationality to functionalism?

Answer 8

Functionalism is the practical application of rationality

Functionalism assumes that human are rational and logical beings

Question 9

At what point in history did organizations become fixed on rationality?

Answer 9

Age of Enlightenment moved away from God

Question 10

What organizational theories were developed based on the concern for rationality?

Answer 10

Taylor- Scientific Management
Fayol- Adminstrative
Weber- Bureaucracy

(Getting butts kicked by Japan in manufacturing)

Question 11

What is the relationship between rationality and efficiency?

Answer 11

Efficiency is determined by what is rational. IF not so concerned with rational, not so concerned with efficiency.

Question 12

What is the author’s critique of how rationality has been abused in the workplace?

Answer 12

When we focus on efficiency, we do it at the expense of effectiveness. Lose sight of how well it is meeting our needs and the quality.