Organizational Theories Flashcards
Organizational Theories
list the main factors that organizational theories address
- structure
- procedures
- other important factors that affect organizational outcomes
Organizational Theories
this organizational theory proposes that, to maximize organizational efficiency & productivity, managers must:
a) use scientific methods to identify the best way to do a job
b) make sure that workers are scientifically selected and trained
c) have an equal division of labor
d) cooperate with workers
Taylor’s Scientific Management
Organizational Theories
according to Taylor’s Scientific Management, how would an organization make sure that workers are scientifically selected & trained
by determining the skill requirements for each job & selecting and training workers so their skills match those requirements
Organizational Theories
according to Taylor’s Scientific Management, describe what an equal division of labor might look like among managers and workers
- managers being responsible for planning & organizing work
- workers being responsible for implementing the manager’s plan
Organizational Theories
according to Taylor’s Scientific Management, cooperating with (rather than coercing) workers ensures what?
that all work is done in ways consistent with scientific principles
Organizational Theories
using a differential piece-rate system that gives efficient workers higher wages would be an example of what concept advocated for by Taylor (1911) and explain why he advocated for this
- linking financial incentives to productivity
- believed that workers are motivated primarily by a desire for economic gain
Organizational Theories
Weber (1947) described this concept as an impersonal & rational way to ensure that an organization’s operations are orderly & efficient
bureaucracy
Organizational Theories
list 6 essential elements of a bureaucratic according to Weber (1947)
1) division of labor
2) a well-defined hierarchy of authority
3) formal rules & procedures
4) employment decisions based on competence & merit
5) written records of decisions & actions
6) separation of ownership & management
Organizational Theories
what approach to management resulted from Mayo’s (1933) research at the Hawthorne Plant of Western Electric Company in the 1920’s and 1930’s
human relations approach
Organizational Theories
Mayo’s (1933) research involved altering illumination & other physical work conditions to identify what? what were his findings?
- what conditions maximize job productivity
- that productivity usually increased, regardless of what changes were made
Organizational Theories
Mayo’s (1933) research highlighted this phenomenon that occurs when people change their behavior when they are aware that they are being studied, rather than due to any changes he made
Hawthorne Effect
Organizational Theories
Mayo (1933) also found that productivity was affected by these norms (e.g., workers used “binging” or punching a coworker on the upper arm to let coworkers know when their productivty levels were too high)
informal work group norms
Organizational Theories
describe Mayo’s (1933) overall conclusions re: motivation & productivity from his research at the Hawthorne Plant of the Western Electric Company
social factors are more important than physical work conditions for work motivation & productivity
Organizational Theories
this organizational theory focuses on the interactions between supervisors & subordinates and proposes that a supervisor’s beliefs about subordinates have a self-fulfilling prophecy effect; in other words, a supervisor’s beliefs determine how the supervisor acts towards subordinates which, in turn, determines how subordinates behave
McGregor’s (1960)
Theory X / Theory Y
Organizational Theories
according to McGregor (1960), these types of supervisors believe that subordinates are inherently lazy, dislike responsibility, resist change, and are concerned only about themselves and that supervisors must be directive & controlling to ensure that workers meet organizational goals
Theory X supervisors
Organizational Theories
according to McGregor (1960), these types of supervisors believe that subordinates enjoy work, are self-directed & internally motivated, and seek responsibility and that a supervisor’s role is to provide subordinates with conditions that allow them to fulfill their own goals by achieving organizational goals
Theory Y supervisors
Organizational Theories
McGregor (1960) was influenced by the human relations approach and the work of Maslow and believed that which Theory type produces the best outcomes for employees & organizations
Theory Y
Organizational Theories
this organizational theory proposes that organizations are open systems that have the characteristics of other open systems (e.g., they undergo cycles of events, act in ways to maintain homeostasis, avoid negative entropy or “decay & destruction of the system by acquiring new resources, and function according to the principles of equifinality & multifinality) and are characterized by input-throughput-output cycles
Katz & Kahn’s (1978) Open-System Theory
Organizational Theories
according to this principle, a system can achieve the same goal or outcome in multiple way
(principle of) equifinality
Organizational Theories
according to this principle, a system can achieve dissimilar goals or outcomes from the same initial conditions
(principle of) multifinality
Organizational Theories
taking in materials, information, and other resources is an example of what part of cycles according to Katz & Kahn (1978)?
input
Organizational Theories
transforming materials, information, and other resources to products, services, and information is an example of what part of cycles according to Katz & Kahn (1978)?
throughput
Organizational Theories
sending out products, services, and information is an example of what part of cycles according to Katz & Kahn (1978)?
output
Organizational Theories
according to Katz & Kahn (1978) what are 2 examples of consequences of outputs
profits & customer feedback
