Org Theory Classical Theory

Question 1

4 types of theories

Answer 1

classical theory (1880-1920)
neoclassical (humanist) theory (1920-1940)
modern theory (1940-1970)
postmodern theory (1970-2024)

Question 2

organizational theory definition

Answer 2

the study of how organizations function and how they effect and are effected by the environment in which they operate

Question 3

organizational structure

Answer 3

the formal system of tasking authority relationship that control how people coordinate their actions and use resources to achieve organizational goals

Question 4

organizational design and change

Answer 4

the process by which managers select and manage aspects of structure and culture so that an organization can control the activities necessary to achieve goals

Question 5

organizational culture

Answer 5

the set of shared values and norms that control organizational members interactions with each other and with suppliers, customers, and other people outside the organization

Question 6

3 schools of thought within classical theory

Answer 6

1. scientific management, Frederick Taylor
2. bureaucratic theory, Max Weber
3. administrative theory, Henri Fayol

Question 7

Taylor sought to make new factories __, __, and ___

Answer 7

standardized, productive, and efficient

Question 8

who is responsible for scientific management theory

Answer 8

frederick taylor

Question 9

Taylor was the first to set up the ___ ____

Answer 9

the assembly line

he was not addressing quality, instead he was looking to increase efficiency. why? more $

Question 10

broad overview scientific theory

Answer 10

1. planning work to achieve efficiency, standardization, specialization, and simplificiation
2. increasing productivity through mutual trust between management and workers
3. scientific principles instead of rule of thumb
4. scientific selection of workers, hire good people
5. management and labor cooperation rather than conflict
6. scientific training of employees

Question 11

Did Taylor cross train employees

Answer 11

no, all that was expected was one task. no movement within the company and no interaction with others

Question 12

Taylor’s opinion on division of labor

Answer 12

he was pro division of labor

divide the work into small, simple, separate steps each of which were to be preformed by a different person

Question 13

taylors opinion on hierarchy within company

Answer 13

wanted a clear chain of command that seperated employees and management

wanted managers to design the work process and enforce how the work was performed, employees were to follow directions

Question 14

what did taylor think about selection of employees and compensation

Answer 14

wanted to select and train good employees that would stay with the company

wanted to commpensate them well

Question 15

taylor’s time and motion studies

Answer 15

time: what is the least amount of time on average it takes to preform each task and each part of a task

motion: what is the fewest number of motions required for each small tasl

Question 16

what famous person succeeded by using taylorism in his company

Answer 16

henry ford

he perfected the assembly line by studying the process of making a car

compensated employees well

Question 17

list outcomes of taylors work

Answer 17

• boost in productivity
• more work accomplished with fewer people meant more profit, more consistent, and probably better quality product
• taylors advice was pay people way to keep them and keep them motivated but many failed to do this
• “managers think employees do” separated workers from the greater meaning of work
• deskilled employees and make them expendable. no skill or time invested in each person, survival of the fittest and employee burnout
• assembly line only as good as its weakest employee

Question 18

who is responsible for administrative theory

Answer 18

henri fayol

Question 19

administrative theory broad characterisitcs

Answer 19

management is considered as a set of planning, organizing, timing, commanding, and coordinating functions

fayol say the need for a systematic approach to training management

Question 20

how does fayol differ from taylor

Answer 20

administrative vs scientific theories

fayol recognizes that people are part of the process, not just extensions of the assembly line

he believed that in order to achieve success one had to consider the people. but, he is still a classicist and doesn’t actually care about the intrinsic person, rather he cares about people in so far as a satisfied worker will be more efficient

Question 21

fayol’s 12 principles of management

Answer 21

division of work
discipline
subordination of individual interest to general interest
centralization
order
stability of tenure and personnel
unity of direction
authority and responsibility
unity of command
remuneration of personnel
scalar chain
equity
initiative
espirit de corps

Question 22

fayol’s principles of management
division of work

Answer 22

task specialization

Question 23

fayol’s principles of management
discipline

Answer 23

enforcing obedience and discipline, application and energy

Question 24

fayol’s principles of management
subordination of individual interest to general interest

Answer 24

employee should put personal interest aside and pursue greater purpose

Question 25

fayol’s principles of management
centralization

Answer 25

establish the most effective balance between centralization and decentralization

Question 26

fayol’s principles of management
order

Answer 26

the right man in the right place in order to form an effective social order

Question 27

fayol’s principles of management
stability of tenure and personnel

Answer 27

wanted people to stay in their jobs when they were good at their jobs

Question 28

fayol’s principles of management
unity of direction

Answer 28

one head and one plan for a group of activities heading the same direction

Question 29

fayol’s principles of management
authority and responsibility

Answer 29

the right to give orders and expect obedience

Question 30

fayol’s principles of management
unity of command

Answer 30

employee should receive orders from one supervisor only

Question 31

fayol’s principles of management
renumeration of personnel

Answer 31

people should be paid fairly and rewarded for well directed effort

Question 32

fayol’s principles of management
scalar chain

Answer 32

one must follow the chain of superiors first up in order to communicate across

Question 33

fayol’s principles of management
equity

Answer 33

desire for equity and equality of treatment when dealing with people, the right combination of kindliness and justice

Question 34

fayol’s principles of management
initiative

Answer 34

managers should encourage and inspire the initiative of employees

Question 35

fayol’s principles of management
espirit de corps

Answer 35

seek to establish unity and harmony within the organization

Question 36

Fayol’s 5 management activities

Answer 36

1. planning: looking ahead and charting course for the organization
2. organizing: selecting and arranging people, organize what is going to happen
3. commanding: overseeing, leading, staying out of details, tell the people what to do
4. coordinating: harmonize and facilitate between departments, coordinate people to make sure they are most effective
5. controlling: ensure compliance on accounting, finance, technical, and quality control, essentially control the entire process

Question 37

criticism of fayol

Answer 37

• limited in scope, looks at the ideal world, can’t actually take people and neatly categorize them
• making expectations against 14 rigid points is a limited point of view
• doesn’t take into account other cultures
• only a slight focus on the employee, more worried about the structure and efficiency than the individuals
  (but, fayol is softer than taylor in saying that one should remember that people are part of the structure and they need to be treated as people)
• over emphasis on structure

Question 38

one major difference between taylor and fayol

Answer 38

fayol wanted people to stay in their jobs if they were good at it, this created stability and was cheaper

Question 39

one major similarity between taylor and fayol

Answer 39

stressed importance of efficiency

Question 40

who is responsible for bureaucratic theory

Answer 40

max weber

Question 41

what was max weber by trade

Answer 41

a sociologist and economist

this made him more people oriented than taylot and fayol

Question 42

bureaucratic theory major concepts

Answer 42

max weber
- considers the organization as a part of a broader society
- the organization is based upon the principles of: structure, specialization, predictability and stability, rationality and democracy
- the weber approach is considered rigid, impersonal, authoritative, and empire building

Question 43

what was weber’s problem with the existing approaches

Answer 43

he saw problems around relationships

he favored a rational approach, legal-rational authority, legitimate authority should be formalized and fixed to positions, authority resides in the position not the individual

Question 44

while bureaucracy is hypothetically a good theory, where does it start to go wrong

Answer 44

it starts to deteriorate when the psychological, sociological, and political implications of workers/humans are introduced
sees problems because human nature is to desire power and pursue self interests

Question 45

weber said the common denominators by which we all live were

Answer 45

a set of oral and written rules

thought everyone should be evaluated by these rules, should uphold goals and follow policies

Question 46

what was the main reason for setting up bureaucracy in large organization

Answer 46

to ensure psychological conformance as bureaucracy controls behavior

Question 47

what is particularism and why was weber trying to avoid it

Answer 47

bias towards someone based on preference or relationship

because it isn’t rational to favor someone not based upon their qualifications but for some other purpose

Question 48

3 tenants of formal bureaucracy

Answer 48

1. specialization/division of labor
   - dividing work into small separate steps
   - taylor agreed, don’t crosstrain people, make them do the same job over and over again
2. authority and hierarchy of offices
   - root of all classical theories
   - pyramid is employees, supervisors, managers, boss
3. impersonality
   - being a sociologist, weber was concerned about relationships, he wanted to shift the focus towards humans but was concerned about conflicts of interest
   - taylor said don’t talk to people, more rigid standard than just be careful to avoid conflict of interest

Question 49

weber’s 6 principles of bureaucracy

Answer 49

1. fixed division of labor
2. hierarchy of offices
3. set of general rules that govern performance
4. rigid separation of personal life from work life, guard against particularism and favoritism
5. selection of personnel on the basis of technical qualifications and equal treatments of all employees
6. participants view employment as career, tenure protects against unfair arbitrary dismissal

Question 50

weber’s legacy

Answer 50

• red tape: overempahsis on structure, policies, or procedures that slows or prevents needed action
• iron cage: people trapped in calculated systems that pursue efficiency and control and threaten person freedom
• consequence of excessive rationalization in modern society
• dehumanizing effects on human lives, theory of alienation
• worth determined by others, persona ldesires less important than higher status and material gains
• leads to disenchantment, loss of meaning and personal fulfillment
• mechanical existence, loss of social connedctedness

Question 51

what are 3 elements that all 3 classical theories have in common

Answer 51

1. hierarchy
2. separatism
3. rigid structure