Major Schools of Thought in Management Flashcards
major schools of thought in management
classical approach human relations school general administrative theory quantitative approach structuralist theory organizational behaviour approach systems perspective contingency approach
classical approach
encompasses:
- scientific management
- administrative approach
scientific management (classical)
prominent people: Henri Ford + Fredrick Taylor
derives from industrial revolutions
major concern: task productivity
greatest contribution: assembly line
administrative approach (classical)
prominent people: Henri Fayol + Max Weber
- Fayol: devised the classical management functions
- Weber: theory of bureaucracy
concern: how organizations should be managed and structured (formal organization)
main principles: division of labour + span of control + unity of command + specialization
theory of bureaucracy involved
division of labour career orientation authority/ hierarchy impersonality formal rules + regulations formal selection
issues w/ classical approach
too rational
theory of man as part of machinery
incomplete understanding of organizational systems
HOWEVER, core of management lies within the classical school
human relations school
related to pragmatism philosophers (John Dewey)
informal organization motivates people
how psychological + social factors impact worker’s performance
Hawthorne Studies: minimized light, increase productivity
- phenomenon in which people behave differently in response to perceived attention from evaluators
general administrative theory
eclectic school: derives best insights from previous schools (both formal and informal)
5 main characteristics: emphasis on practice, reaffirm classical postulates, emphasis on general principles of administration, objectives and results + eclecticism
quantitative approach
use of quantitative tools to address management problems (decision trees…)
- derived from Taylorism (Frederick Taylor)
- great development after WW2
concern: task, measuring performance and linking payment to performance
structuralist theory
major advances: development of bureaucracy + structuralist conception
idea of bureaucracy + authority:
- 3 origins: charisma, tradition + formal rules
structuralist conception:
- concerned w/: society of organizations, organizational environment + inherent conflict
behavioural approach
develops the human relations school
Mc Gregor’s X & Y theory:
- X: pessimistic about workers’ capabilities
- Y: optimistic set of assumptions
- urged managers to challenge these assumptions about human nature because they are untrue (X) in most circumstances and should be guided by Y
Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs
- motivated by efforts to satisfy a hierarchy of needs ranging from basic needs to those for self-actualization
Herzberg’s Motivational Factors: hygiene + motivational factors
systems perspective
It is based on the concept that an organization is a system, or an entity of interrelated parts.
one change will be reflected throughout the system
3 premises:
A) Systems exist within other systems.
B) Organizational systems are open systems
C) The operation of a system depends upon its structure.
two influential concepts from the systems perspective
entropy: tendency of a system to run down and die if it does not receive fresh inputs from its environment
synergy: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
contingency approach
emphasizes that there is no single best way to manage people or work in every situation – depends on situation
dif environment > dif strategies > dif structure
main characteristics:
- rejects universal principles of administration
- situational theory
- eclectic
