Relevance of Classical and Contingency Today

Question 1

Relevance of contingency today… x7

Answer 1

Organisational structure can directly impact employee relations
Service sector firms may use decentralised approach to work planning and empowering employees
The rise of global on online competition due to e-commerce sales means firms have flexible structures to respond to rapidly changing markets
Managers needed flexibility in the COVID-19 pandemic to adapt to the circumstances e.g. working from home, online meetings
Flatter structured orgs with less supervision required will enhance relations between org and employee in highly creative roles
Delegating decision making in roles that directly deal with customers gives flexibility to deal with non-routine scenarios
Relationship-oriented managers are better suited for a informal situation and managers must the best that fits in the business.

Question 2

Why contingency isn’t relevant today… x1

Answer 2

Managers may not be able to adapt due to their own instinctive management style, making it less relevant.

Question 3

Relevance of classical today… x7

Answer 3

Organisations where routine processes are required to produce standardised product e.g. manufacturing
Lean production e.g. JIT based on scientific management to eliminate waste and time at each stage
Recessions/cost of living crisis and UK government austerity measures mean that money is a key motivator currently
Food outlets to provide a uniform service throughout branches e.g. McDonalds. They also provide specific timings on assembling to maximise efficiency and output
Motion studies still used in operating theatres.
Time and motion studies are used in call centres to measure time that’s allocated to tasks and measure employee performance accordingly.
Business who use factories in developing countries may use piece rate to pay workers due to no minimum wage.

Question 4

Why classical isn’t relevant today…x4

Answer 4

Most businesses encourage flexibility and allow staff to multi-skill as specialisation is boring and repetitive to prevent them feeling unimportant
Based around factory work and not suitable for creative professions e.g. teaching, nursing
Classical is rigid which makes it less relevant as modern orgs have to be flexible to respond to changes in external factors
New management techniques like delaying and empowerment made classical management less relevant.