lecture 4

Question 1

What are the different ways to view organizations?

Answer 1

structures (rules, standards, positions, decision-making)

behavioral patterns (sharing goals, coordinating behavior, stakeholders & coalitions)

cultures (understandings, myths, artifacts, ideologies).

Often, a mix of these views is used.

Example: A company has a clear hierarchy (structure), shared goals among employees (behavioral patterns), and a unique set of values and traditions (culture).

Question 2

What are the two perspectives on processes in organizations?

Answer 2

Perspective 1 views organizations as constituted by processes, focusing on identified processes like flows of tasks, goods, information, or people.

Perspective 2 views organizations as processes, focusing on the ongoing creation, emergence, and becoming of processes.

Example:
Perspective 1: Tracking the flow of materials in a factory.
Perspective 2: Understanding how a company’s culture evolves over time.