Organizational Theories

Question 1

Which theory posit that individuals and groups are used by organizations to fulfil their objectives?

Answer 1

Classical theory

Question 2

The scientific management theory was propounded by who and focused on what?

Answer 2

Frederick Taylor
Focused on efficiency in production

Question 3

What were the four principles of Frederick Taylor’s scientific management theory?

Answer 3

1. The rule of thumb method should be replaced with scientific methods
2. Employees should be scientifically selected, trained and developed
3. Detailed instruction and supervision of each worker in the performance of their task should be provided
4. Work should be divided equally between managers and workers so that the managers can apply scientific management principles in planning the work and workers perform the task.

Question 4

What were the main ideas of Frederick Taylor?

Answer 4

Increased productivity would lead to higher profit and higher wages

Time and motion studies

Motivation (rewards)

Functional foremanship

Training

Division of labour

Question 5

What does Time and motion studies mean?

Answer 5

It refers to a situation where a worker is given a task to perform within a specific period using certain rules and regulations; it involves completing a task and process in a way that eliminates unnecessary steps and enhances efficiency

Question 6

What do functional Foremans do?

Answer 6

They are leaders of a group who guide workers on what to do. They are interested in ensuring that workers keep doing a particular job till they become experts at it, this leads to learning, expertise and specialization

Question 7

What were the criticisms of the scientific management theory?

Answer 7

1. Frederick Taylor was criticized for trying to reduce humans to machines with regards to his time and motion studies. They stated that humans are different from machines and the more they worked, the more their brains diminished
2. They also criticized his idea on motivation stating that for workers to get rewards, they had to work extra hard
3. Concerning his idea on functional foremanship, they stated that there is bound to be conflict between the foreman and the workers

Question 8

Who was Henry Fayol?

Answer 8

He was a French man, an engineer and industrialist who worked in a large French steel and coal company as the chief executive.

He focused on the managers and was devoted to helping them become more successful than they were

Question 9

Henry Fayol stated that managers ought to apply ___ in performing their functions

Answer 9

POCCC

Question 10

The human relations theory was propounded by

Answer 10

Elton Mayor

Question 11

The decision making theory was propounded by?

Answer 11

Herbert Simon

Question 12

What did the decision making theory focus on?

Answer 12

They claimed that what workers needed most was an opportunity to participate in decision making in the organization

Question 13

What were the reasons for involving workers in decision making?

Answer 13

For setting of goals

Provision of Information

Workers will be familiar with decisions reached

Question 14

What were the criticisms of the Decision making theories?

Answer 14

1. This school didn’t emphasize to what extent should workers be allowed to participate in the decision making of an organization
2. The involvement of workers in the decision making process could lead to goal displacement because they are likely to take decisions that will Favour them

Question 15

Which theory came to criticize the human relations theory?

Answer 15

The systems theory

Question 16

What was the issue with the human relations theory according to the systems theory?

Answer 16

They emphasized that the HR theorists were biased because they focused only on human behavior and nothing else in the organization, they accused the HR theory of not telling the whole truth about the organization, neglecting it’s structure.

The HR theorists failed to tell us how organizations can function to achieve their objectives

Question 17

What were the ideas of the system theories?

Answer 17

They claim that the structure of an organization is important in achieving its objectives and humans fall under these structures

They also claim that while some groups in the system have some interests, other groups do too, therefore, some humans don’t agree on certain things

Question 18

I’m systems theory, those who refuse to accept the policy are____ and those who comply with the policies are _____

Answer 18

Demand group/ Supply group

Question 19

What goes out into the society as goods and services which interacts with the environment to get feedback?

Answer 19

The outcome of policy processes go out as policies (output)

Question 20

What are the criticisms of the systems theory?

Answer 20

1. It is a prolonged process and is expensive to use
2. There is the need to understand the entire organization and it’s interdependent structure in order to carry out the system holistically
3. It failed to state the dynamic relationship in the system. How does the structure work?

Question 21

What is the major strength of the systems theory?

Answer 21

It’s insight in compiling the scientific theory and human relations theory to present an integrated theory of organization.

Question 22

The contingency theory is also called ____

Answer 22

Situational theory

Question 23

The growth of the contingency theory is based on___

Answer 23

The research of some scholars who studied a large number of organizations

Question 24

What does contingency theory focus on?

Answer 24

There are differences noticeable in organizations such as structures, pattern of behavior and Mide of operation.

They concluded that organizational forms such as the structure, rules, functions etc are not principles that should be recommended for adoption by organizations

They recommended that individuals and organizations should be studied in order to understand the structure, Goals and operations.

Question 25

What was the view of contingency theorists?

Answer 25

Their view was that organizations differ depending on many variables such as the prevailing conditions, levels of technology, environmental factors etc.

No common structure, pattern, principles, or mode of operation exists for all organizations

Question 26

What were the recommendations of the contingency theorists?

Answer 26

They recommended that principles, structures, patterns and mode of operation for each organization depends on the organization concerned and the prevailing circumstances

They recommended that organizational theories should go into organizations with open minds and flexibility to study these organizations

There should be no prejudice, pre information or pre knowledge of any of these organizations

Question 27

What were the criticisms of the Contingency theory?

Answer 27

There is difficulty in making general view since the study of organizations is made situational

It is difficult to deprive oneself of prejudices, bias and pre knowledge about other organizations

There might be a problem of objective conclusion due to the flexibility of the mind, it might be difficult to make firm decisions