Introduction
This essay will discuss what the Hawthorne Studies were, state its purpose and examine its key conclusions. As well as this, this essay will give the strengths and weaknesses of the Hawthorne studies. This essay will also define and give a brief background on bureaucratic management, state and examine its strengths as well as its weaknesses and also its key conclusions. This essay will also compare the conclusions of both the Hawthorne studies with the main points and structure of a bureaucratic management structure and form a conclusion based on the facts and points made.
What were the Hawthorne Studies?
The Hawthorne Studies were initiated in 1924 by the management of the Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric Company in Chicago, …show more content…
• Evidence does not support its existence (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• It is very subjective and its accuracy depends on the views of the manager (Goh See Khai).
What is Bureaucratic Management?
The idea of bureaucratic management was thought of by a German Sociologist called Max Weber (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006). He concentrated on how to set up organisations with success. He outlined a set structure of how organisations should be set up and he called this bureaucracy and it had six main elements:
1. Division of labour: Work was split up and assigned to specialists so that people had a clear responsibility (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
2. Hierarchy: Positions were organised based on authority (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
3. Selection: Employees were recruited based on their skills and qualifications (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
4. Career Orientation: Managers were views as career professionals rather than having some sort of stake in the organisation
5. Formalisation: The organisation had a set of rules and procedures in relation to performance (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
6. Impersonality: Rules and regulations to all employees. (Tiernan, Morley and Foley …show more content…
Bureaucracy was most used by public and civil service types of organisations. (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006 P.17). “Many of the early Irish semi-state bodies and the civil service were structured along bureaucratic lines, including Aer Lingus and Iarnód Éireann” (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
Strengths and Weaknesses of Bureaucratic Management
Strengths
• Hierarchy allowed a chain of command to develop in line with Fayol’s scalar chain idea (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• Formal selection ensured that potential employees were hired on their skills and qualifications and not based on who they knew (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• Rules and procedures controlled the performance of the workers (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• “Impersonality of the organisation ensured that rules were applied across the board without personality or other influences getting in the way” (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
Weaknesses
• Obeying all of the rules and procedures can sometimes not be in the best interests of the organisation. (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• Although it promotes stability, over time things can become very rigid as the rules and procedures may not be appropriate (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
Conclusion on Bureaucratic
This essay will discuss what the Hawthorne Studies were, state its purpose and examine its key conclusions. As well as this, this essay will give the strengths and weaknesses of the Hawthorne studies. This essay will also define and give a brief background on bureaucratic management, state and examine its strengths as well as its weaknesses and also its key conclusions. This essay will also compare the conclusions of both the Hawthorne studies with the main points and structure of a bureaucratic management structure and form a conclusion based on the facts and points made.
What were the Hawthorne Studies?
The Hawthorne Studies were initiated in 1924 by the management of the Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric Company in Chicago, …show more content…
• Evidence does not support its existence (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• It is very subjective and its accuracy depends on the views of the manager (Goh See Khai).
What is Bureaucratic Management?
The idea of bureaucratic management was thought of by a German Sociologist called Max Weber (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006). He concentrated on how to set up organisations with success. He outlined a set structure of how organisations should be set up and he called this bureaucracy and it had six main elements:
1. Division of labour: Work was split up and assigned to specialists so that people had a clear responsibility (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
2. Hierarchy: Positions were organised based on authority (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
3. Selection: Employees were recruited based on their skills and qualifications (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
4. Career Orientation: Managers were views as career professionals rather than having some sort of stake in the organisation
5. Formalisation: The organisation had a set of rules and procedures in relation to performance (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
6. Impersonality: Rules and regulations to all employees. (Tiernan, Morley and Foley …show more content…
Bureaucracy was most used by public and civil service types of organisations. (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006 P.17). “Many of the early Irish semi-state bodies and the civil service were structured along bureaucratic lines, including Aer Lingus and Iarnód Éireann” (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
Strengths and Weaknesses of Bureaucratic Management
Strengths
• Hierarchy allowed a chain of command to develop in line with Fayol’s scalar chain idea (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• Formal selection ensured that potential employees were hired on their skills and qualifications and not based on who they knew (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• Rules and procedures controlled the performance of the workers (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• “Impersonality of the organisation ensured that rules were applied across the board without personality or other influences getting in the way” (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
Weaknesses
• Obeying all of the rules and procedures can sometimes not be in the best interests of the organisation. (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
• Although it promotes stability, over time things can become very rigid as the rules and procedures may not be appropriate (Tiernan, Morley and Foley 2006).
Conclusion on Bureaucratic