Kanter “Contributions to Theory: Structural Determinants of Behavior in Organizations.”

Question 1

What are the three identified variables that explain behavior in organizations?

Answer 1

1. Structure of Opportunity
2. Structure of Power
3. Proportional distribution of people of diff kinds

Question 2

What is opportunity?

Answer 2

Expectations and future prospects

possibility for mobility and career growth

PPL Low in opportunity:
- Less options
- Worse mental health

PPL high in opportunity:
- More options
- Better mental health

Question 3

What is power?

Answer 3

Ability to mobilize resources

This is determined by:
- formal job characteristics
- informal alliances

High in power:
- More insecure
- less well liked

Low in power:
- higher group morale
- be more liked

Question 4

What is the social composition of people? (proportions)

Answer 4

Social composition of people in the same situation

PPl represented in small proportion:
- Token
-More visible
- be stereotyped

PPl represented in large proportion:
- Fit in
- Less stress

Question 5

What are the five underlying assumptions in the structural approach?

(where organizational roles/positions carry power and rewards. Structure of rewards pushes ppl to certain rewards, and often rewards those in “their” roles)

(DONT THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT)

Answer 5

1. Work is not an isolated relationship between actor and activity.
   - Bigger social context around it
2. Behaviour in organizations is adaptive
   - Ppls choices are stratigic to handle a given situation
3. Behaviour isn’t mechanical (same all the time like a machine), but it is the interaction of the person and the situation
4. Behaviour is linked to the formal tasks of a job
5. Showing interest in job is linked to competence and ability to do the job then psychological analyses

Question 6

How is organizational behaviour produced?

Answer 6

Interaction between individuals and the situation they are managing. What position they hold and the ways they can act.

The general interaction is dynamic

Question 7

what is the cognitive school of the person - organization relationship?

Answer 7

• How ppl weight factors that motivate them to participate, contribute, and to be satisfied with their work

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Question 8

what is the social school of the person - organization relationship?

Answer 8

• How the style of leadership, norms, values, and group effect a persons relationship to their work

Question 9

What are the marxist three advantages for captialism?

Answer 9

1. managerial control (Workers depend on them)
2. manager legitimization (they are required, and therefore deserve privilege)
3. Economic advantage (use division of labour to lower price of labour)

Question 10

How can being a woman at work limit your behaviour?

Answer 10

Women are limited in their behaviour by their roles

organizations systematically make some people look good, and others bad