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Scientific Management
Frederick Taylor and the "One Best Way"Frederick Taylor
Work would be more efficient and productive with the "one best way" method. Organizations task oriented. Was well received and adopted by many organizations. Follows the functional perspective
Today, this method of organizational structure can still be very beneficial. If an organization has a very specific process that it follows with its paperwork, construction of a product, or procedures, the Scientific Management method would be beneficial in getting things done correctly -
Principals of Coordintation
Developed by Mary Parker Follett
Interpersonally focused
Looked at motivations and desires of individuals and groups
Believed that conflict could be constructive
If you find out what motivates the members of an organization, you can use those motivations in your favor to get them to complete tasks
The Meaning-Centered Approach is followed by Principals of Coordination -
Principals of Coordination Continued
An example of this theory in todays organizations is the idea of reward/punishment. For instance, if you have an organizational member who really likes to travel and go on vacation, rewards could be used to motivate them by telling them that if they meet a certain deadline or quota then they will get extra vacation days. This method can prove to be very beneficial to the success of the organization and also allows all members of the organization to build interpersonal relationships -
Principals of Bureaucracy
Developed by Max Weber
Centers on authority and management in the organization
Leaders of an organization were selected by their competence for a certain task
Interpersonal relationships and connections were not encouraged
Task-oriented
Hiring workers was based on a set of rule and regulations outlining specific duties of the jobs tasks. Workers were hired on their ability and competence to complete the task. Their connections and relationships had no weight in their employment
Chain of command -
Principles of Bureaucracy Continued
Bureaucracy follows the functional approach
The bureaucracy approach to organizations can be beneficial when certain policies must be followed. For example, a police department is somewhat bureaucratic. In order to be a police officer you need to have knowledge of specific rules and regulations as well as have the ability to perform many physical tasks. It would not make sense for a police department to hire someone who had never had any training. In this case, bureaucracy would be beneficial -
Theory X and Theory Y
Developed by Douglas McGregor.Integrated the Scientific Management and Human Behavior Perspectives.Follows the functional and meaning-centered approach.
Theory X supported the Scientific Management perspective, claiming that people are inherently lazy and not motivated to work. Therefore, micromanagement, and strong supervision were needed in the organization -
Theory X and Theory Y Contiued
More on Theory X and Theory YTheory Y supports the Human Behavior perspective, claiming that workers are self-motivated and responsible. Therefore, little supervision and direction are needed in order to get things accomplished.
This theory has been criticized for being to extreme and that individuals should be placed on a spectrum between X and Y instead of being classified as one or the other -
Theory X and Theory Y Contiued 2
This theory can be utilized in organizations today in order to properly asses organizational members and their need of supervision. Some employees may need more motivation and supervision in order to complete tasks and responsibilities and others may need less. As an organization it would be important to identify who needed what in order to ensure that productivity and efficiency is at its best. -
The Systems Approach
Developed by Daniel Katz and Robert Kahn with further advances made by other systems theorists
Looks at the organizations interaction with the environment
Was developed because of the criticisms of Scientific Management as well as Human Behavior theories
Focused on the organizations ability to adapt to the input and feedback from the environment
Also stresses how an organization must try and maintain itself with the ever changing environment
Falls in the Emerging Perspectives Category -
The Systems Approach Continued
Newer advancements on this theory look at how the organization also influences the environment
This approach can be adopted iin almost any organization. For example, if gas prices continue to rise and the consumer market wants more fuel efficient vehicles, a car manufacture adopting the systems approach would work to produce vehicles with better fuel economy. Without this change in product or process, the organization may not succeed because they refused to adapt to the environment -
Postmodern Perspectives
First developed by Jean-Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard and later expanded by Steward Clegg
Rejected mass consumption, the "one best way" method, and high task oriented organizations
Values flexibility in organizational structure
Believes that members with various skills, traits, and abilities are assets to the organization
Encourages continually development and learning in the organization
Democracy is valued over bureaucracy -
Postmodern Perspectives Continued
Employees are all apart of the decision making process
Working in groups is more beneficial than working as individuals
This is an emerging perspective
Today this perspective can be seen in companies such as Google. Everyone is valued and is an important member of the organization. This type of perspective can be very beneficial in an organization who is always attempting to improve as well as continue to create and execute new ideas and products -
References
Shockley-Zalabak (2012). Fundamentals of organizational communication: Knowledge, sensitivity, skills, values (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Photo Credits:
Frederick Taylor en.wikipedia.org
Max Weber www.biography.com
Mary Parker Follett www.westga.edu
Douglas McGregor l0nix.blogspot.com
Katz and Kahn www.amazon.com
Stewart Clegg www.olkc2014.com
