Week 1a: Changing Nature of Work: Bureaucracy, Globalization & Technology

Question 1

Explain the difference between large and small organizations

Answer 1

Large: Dispersed in hierarchy; branches etc. Burc. Used to create organization
- Extrinsic rewards -> better pay, opportunity for career development
Small: Doing lots of tasks and having decision making power
- Higher intrinsic rewards -> interrelating tasks; meaningful work; personal relationships between employees

Question 2

What is the compensating differential?

Answer 2

A trade off. Large firms need to increase extrinsic rewards to make up for lack of intrinsic rewards

Question 3

What are the 5 elements of bureaucracy?

Answer 3

1. Rationality
2. Impersonality
3. Meritocracy
4. High Specialization
5. Record Keeping

Question 4

What are the 2 types of rationality?

Answer 4

Substantive - substance or content; rational means to achieving ends for organization; aligning with ethical principles
Formal - process and structure - ex. Keeping checks and balances

Question 5

Explain impersonality

Answer 5

“Treated like a number” - focus on ability to work and nothing else; allows for greater inclusion compared to kin/family owned businesses

Question 6

When does bureaucracy work?

Answer 6

Coordination of large numbers of people on large scales of business
Ex. Large factories, governments

Question 7

What is Weber’s ideal type?

Answer 7

some orgs. Will have all of the elements of bureaucracy

Question 8

When DOESNT bureaucracy work?

Answer 8

Alienation
Red tape - rigid/excessive rules
Hard to initiate change within the bureaucracy
Slow moving

Question 9

How does bureaucracy affect workers?

Answer 9

Bureaucratic personality or bureaucratic ritualism
- Ex. McDonaldization
Template for service economies
High routinization
Ex. Food preparation

Question 10

What are the critiques of bureaucratic personality/McDonaldization?

Answer 10

• De-skilling; specialized instead of having more skills
  ◊ Easily replaced; high turn-over
  ◊ Hinders human needs; resistance to bottom-up change
  ◊ Personality
  “just following the rules”

Question 11

What is a Matrix? Example?

Answer 11

Exist in long term or organically occur
Tends to have both horizontal and vertical dimensions
- Vertical: Teams, units
- Horizontal: projects

Question 12

What is a an Adhocracy?

Answer 12

Org has common goals but no consensus
Feedback in the enviro constantly fuelling ideas
Ex. Wikipedia
Open forum

Question 13

What is a Modified bureaucracy?

Answer 13

Less radical bureau. Structures
Lateral organization
Better use of people it employs and facilitates communication/motivation
Ex. Facebook