Organizational Theory – Theoretical Concepts
Jason Glavin
University of the People
There are four main historical bodies of Organizational behavior that have had a major influence on the development of Organizational theories in the present day. They are Frederick W. Taylor’s Scientific Management, Henri Fayol’s Administrative Theory, Max Weber’s Bureaucracy Model and Herbert Simon’s Theory of Administrative Behavior. What follows is a brief discussion of each model, followed by an indepth analysis of the theory deemed to be the most effective. Finally, there will be an examination of how these concepts have impacted the development of current organizational theories.
In the early 1900s, F.W. Taylor pioneered the Scientific …show more content…
The Bureaucracy Model incorporates social and historical factors. The ideal employee in this system maintains her supervisor’s best interests at heart and faithfully operates within her clearly designed set of responsibilities. Legal and rule based authority is paramount, as it creates an administrative hierarchy, a rule-oriented system, an emphasis on technical qualifications and the idea of employment being a long-term career. Weber’s system can be most succinctly explained in a simplified flow chain. The starting element, Strategy, produces a Formal Structure, which is manifested through Activities and Implementation. This produces Results. The Formal Structure is considered the most important element, as it carries out strategy at the Organizational Level. His central considerations for creating a bureaucratic structure are size, complexity, conflicts, the need for management and class struggle.
Herbert Simon’s Theory of Administrative Behavior considers the social and psychological aspects of the individual employee in their decision making and performance. He distinguishes the “Economic Man”, an idealized individual in Scientific Management who is completely rational with his more realistic “Administrative Man”, who takes limited rational action, due to limited knowledge …show more content…
While Taylor’s Scientific Management is criticized for its lack of emphasis on individuals and management, its ability to fine tune industrial processes, increase productivity and establish mass production systems is widely admired (Laegaard & Bindslev, 2006). Fayol’s administrative theory helped set the basis for later organizational models, such as Weber’s bureaucracy, as it applied scientific rigor to the administrative side. And finally, Simon’s theory of Administrative Behaviour has helped incorporate realistic psychological and social aspects of the individual into what are often considered unrealistic idealized frameworks. His consideration of Value versus factual premises brings much needed perspective to the realities of day to day
Jason Glavin
University of the People
There are four main historical bodies of Organizational behavior that have had a major influence on the development of Organizational theories in the present day. They are Frederick W. Taylor’s Scientific Management, Henri Fayol’s Administrative Theory, Max Weber’s Bureaucracy Model and Herbert Simon’s Theory of Administrative Behavior. What follows is a brief discussion of each model, followed by an indepth analysis of the theory deemed to be the most effective. Finally, there will be an examination of how these concepts have impacted the development of current organizational theories.
In the early 1900s, F.W. Taylor pioneered the Scientific …show more content…
The Bureaucracy Model incorporates social and historical factors. The ideal employee in this system maintains her supervisor’s best interests at heart and faithfully operates within her clearly designed set of responsibilities. Legal and rule based authority is paramount, as it creates an administrative hierarchy, a rule-oriented system, an emphasis on technical qualifications and the idea of employment being a long-term career. Weber’s system can be most succinctly explained in a simplified flow chain. The starting element, Strategy, produces a Formal Structure, which is manifested through Activities and Implementation. This produces Results. The Formal Structure is considered the most important element, as it carries out strategy at the Organizational Level. His central considerations for creating a bureaucratic structure are size, complexity, conflicts, the need for management and class struggle.
Herbert Simon’s Theory of Administrative Behavior considers the social and psychological aspects of the individual employee in their decision making and performance. He distinguishes the “Economic Man”, an idealized individual in Scientific Management who is completely rational with his more realistic “Administrative Man”, who takes limited rational action, due to limited knowledge …show more content…
While Taylor’s Scientific Management is criticized for its lack of emphasis on individuals and management, its ability to fine tune industrial processes, increase productivity and establish mass production systems is widely admired (Laegaard & Bindslev, 2006). Fayol’s administrative theory helped set the basis for later organizational models, such as Weber’s bureaucracy, as it applied scientific rigor to the administrative side. And finally, Simon’s theory of Administrative Behaviour has helped incorporate realistic psychological and social aspects of the individual into what are often considered unrealistic idealized frameworks. His consideration of Value versus factual premises brings much needed perspective to the realities of day to day