...BUS2019 – Understanding Work & Organisations Word Count - 1840 words Name - Jinit Dedhia Student Number -120252266 Different aspects of the concept of ‘rationality’ and how these are identified in different management theories Rationality in today’s world has become a significant facet of management in organizations. Rationality as a whole can be defined as the ability of being consistent with or based on logic (Rona-Tas, 2007). A more appropriate definition for rationality in management for this essay is, described by Simon (1972) as a style of behaviour that is appropriate to the achievement of given goals, within the limits imposed by given conditions and constraints. The principal meaning of rationality is a condition of consistency among choices made from different sets of alternatives. In his view, rationality is defined by the existence of a preference relation which is complete and transitive (Arrow, 1996) .The essay is concerned with giving a brief overview of rationality and it will also discuss the different aspects on the concept of rationality identified in different management theories. Types of Rationality Rational behaviour is behaviour in accordance with reason, behaviour that in some sense serves the actor’s interests. Most writers seem to accept that rationality is an essential premise for any science of economics. In so far as economics is a science of human action, there seems to be little one can say of action...
Words: 2049 - Pages: 9
...Max Weber’s Bureaucracy Written by Dr. Wasim Al-Habil College of Commerce The Islamic University of Gaza Beginning with Max Weber, bureaucracies have been regarded as mechanisms that rationalize authority and decision-making in society. Yet subsequent theorists have questioned the rationality of bureaucracies. Which features of modern-day public bureaucracies are rational? Which are not? Buttress your argument with citations from organization and/or public administration theories. Introduction: Max Weber’s work about bureaucracy, translated into English in 1946, was one of the major contributions that has influenced the literature of public administration. However, Van Riper (1997) argues that the work of Weber on bureaucracy has no influence on American PA until the 1950’s. The word bureaucracy is derived from two words; “bureau” and “Kratos.” While the word “bureau” refers to the office the Greek suffix “kratia or kratos” means power or rule. Thus we use the word “bureaucracy” to refer to the power of the office (Hummel, 1998, 307). “Bureaucracy” is rule conducted from a desk or office, i.e. by the preparation and dispatch of written documents and electronic ones. Bureaucracy is borrowed by the field of public administration (PA) from the field of sociology. It was borrowed by PA in much a similar way that practices of business were borrowed from the field of business administration and economics. Weber (1946) presents bureaucracy as both a scientific...
Words: 4935 - Pages: 20
...Review of “A New Vision for Public Administration” Charles T. Goodsell Public Administration Review, 66.4, July/August 2006: 623:635 Theme The theme of the article by Goodsell is illustrating “how public administration in the United States can be seen on its own terms, and not those of others” (p. 634). This article argue that the professors and practitioners of the field have inadvertently allowed it to be observed and interpreted from standpoints imposed by others who are external to its institutions and subject matter (p. 623). These include elected officials and politicians and a variety of critics supporting programs for improvement. The representations of the field expected by these outside viewers have been indiscreetly acknowledged within public administration, leaving the field disposed for influence as a tool for purposes other than its own. This situation has made it difficult for the field's leaders to formulate a separate intellectual vision for public administration that is consonant with their appropriate goals and concerns (p.623). Topic The topic under consideration is to contend that it is time for the field to advance, in the sense that it must express, at least to itself, a vision that apprehends its understanding of public administration's contented involvement to a democratic society. The article also present that the vision is no more “true” in an objective sense than the visions of others. The subject of investigation are the viewpoints...
Words: 1603 - Pages: 7
...2014 BEAURACRACY, A CONTENTIOUS NECESSITY VINOD NANNAWARE TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES M2014HRM062 BUREAUCRACY, A CONTENTIOUS NECESSITY VINOD NANNAWARE, M2014HRM062 Charges of corruption, Policy paralysis like situations and leadership conflicts resulted in historic downfall of grand old party of the country and new era of governance started in India. ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’, one of the massively used and successfully scripted election propaganda did wonders for ‘party with difference’. No one ever imagined it would become an election campaign agenda, but astute Narendra Modi who played all of his cards very smartly in the LS poll 2014, knows the importance of using right words at right time. Many eminent scholars and economist all across globe blamed bureaucratic functioning and policy paralysis of UPA-2 as one of the main reasons of this defeat. Hence this historic victory of Modi led NDA puts number of questions in front of modern day sociologist, especially those who follows and believes in Marx Weber Ideas of Bureaucracy. Looking this phenomenon as only one of its kind or merely just an accident will lead to falsified inference about changing economical and social realities in modern India. After assuming the power the way in which team Modi has been tackling most of the pending issues surprised many of us. In fact governments last 2 months report card shows that our beliefs such as set of rules and regulations are inevitable part of government...
Words: 1550 - Pages: 7
...Maybe it is time to rediscover bureaucracy? Johan P. Olsen Working Paper No.10, March 2005 http://www.arena.uio.no 1 Abstract The paper questions the fashionable ideas, that bureaucratic organization is an obsolescent, undesirable and non-viable form of administration, and that there is an inevitable and irreversible paradigmatic shift towards market- or network organization. In contrast, the paper argues that contemporary democracies are involved in another round in a perennial debate and ideological struggle over what are desirable forms of administration and government, that is, a struggle over institutional identities and institutional balances. The argument is not that bureaucratic organization is a panacea and the answer to all challenges of public administration. Rather, bureaucratic organization is part of a repertoire of overlapping, supplementary and competing forms co-existing in contemporary democracies, and so are market-organization and network-organization. Rediscovering Weber’s analysis of bureaucratic organization, then, enriches our understanding of public administration. This is in particular true when we (a) include bureaucracy as an institution, and not only an instrument; (b) look at the empirical studies in their time and context, and not only at Weber’s ideal-types and predictions; and (c) take into account the political and normative order bureaucracy is part of, and not only the internal characteristics of “the bureau”...
Words: 13513 - Pages: 55
...Title of Assignment: A critical review of two articles relating to aspects of contemporary organizational design 1) M Orlitzky, F L Schmidt & S L Payne, Corporate Social and Financial Performance: A Meta-Analysis, in Organization Studies, 2003; 24; 403-441 2) E J Walton, The Persistence of Bureaucracy – A Meta-Analysis of Weber’s Model of Bureaucratic Control, in Organization Studies, 2005; 26; 569-600 Organisational Design is concerned with constructing and changing an organisation’s structure to achieve the organisation’s goals. In order to understand organisation, we have to look at the two dimensions; structural and contextual. Structural dimensions provide labels like formalization, specialization, hierarchy of authority, centralization, professionalism and personnel ratios, to describe the internal characteristics of an organisation, and they create a basis for measuring and comparing organisation. Whereas contextual dimensions, they characterize the whole organisation, including its size, technology, environment and goals, and also describe the organisational setting that influences and shapes the structural dimensions. For some time, researchers have studied the relationship between a firm’s corporate financial performance (CFP) and its corporate social performance (CSP). Although many studies indicated that CSP is a determinant of CFP, other aspects of some research have been inconsistent. Some studies are criticized for using unrealizable CSP measures;...
Words: 3989 - Pages: 16
...economics at the Universities of Freiburg, Heidelberg, Vienna, ending with his death after a bout with pneumonia. Weber's interest in organizations evolves from his view of the institutionalization of power and authority in the modern Western world. He constructed a "rational-legal authority" model of an ideal type bureaucracy. This ideal type rested on a belief in the "legality" of patterns of normative rules and the right of those elevated to authority to issue commands (legal authority). Weber postulated the rules and regulations of a bureaucracy serve to insulate its members against the possibility of personal favoritism. According to Max weber Bureaucratic management approach emphasized the necessity of organizations to operate in rational way instead of following the “arbitrary whims” or irrational motions and intentions of owners and managers. He found different characteristics in bureaucracies that would effectively conduct decision-making, controlling resources, protecting workers and accomplishment of organizational goals. Weber Believes All Bureaucracies Have Certain Characteristics: a. A well-defined hierarchy: All positions within a bureaucracy are structured in a way permitting the higher positions to supervise and control the lower positions. This provides a clear chain of command facilitating control and order throughout the organization. b. Division of labor and specialization: All responsibilities in an organization are rationalized to the point...
Words: 4265 - Pages: 18
...ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICES IN DEMOCRACY Importance/ Functions of Civil Services Civil Services is the functional body responsible for carrying on the administration under the direction and control of the elected representatives of people and in accordance with the rules and principles. As per E.N. Gladden “It is the function of Civil Services to fulfil the will of Parliament, as formulated by the Cabinet – i.e. the Cabinet works out the policies of the Government. The Civil Services see that these policies, when duly approved by the Parliament, is faithfully executed, so far as this is humanly possible. Their main job is to assist the Government in policy formulation and then implementing this very policy on ground in most efficient manner. Civil Services keep identifying new areas of societal concerns, inform the political masters and help them design the potential solutions, in form of various schemes and progs. They keep taking feedback of performance of these schemes and bring required modifications in them. It is the civil services, which is in constant touch with citizens at all levels of government – people interactions. Therefore the efficiency and attitude of civil servants will reflect upon the people’s confidence and faith in the governance system of the country. Highlighting the importance of civil services, Joseph Chamberlain (British politician) said to a group of civil servants, “You can do without us (political representatives), but I am fully convinced that we could...
Words: 2202 - Pages: 9
... Then define exactly what organisational learning is and what impact the characteristics of the mechanistic approach will have on it. The two approaches involve theories and models about the adaptability and the learning skills of organizations. Bureaucracies clearly lack these characteristics in comparison to other approaches. The mechanistic approach operates the organisation in the same way a machine operates - efficient, specialised, reliable, predictable, logical and with no opinions (has no heart). The model which refers to this approach would be the Taylor model (Taylorism - 21st century scientific management). Frederick Winslow Taylor was a mechanical engineer who strived to improve industrial efficiency. He was a pioneer in the field of scientific management. The Taylor model consists of 4 components. 'Division of labour' where responsibility is shifted from worker to manager. 'One best way' where the scientific methods determine the most efficient way to operate. 'Scientific selection and training' which means the best person is selected depending on experience and qualifications. They are trained to work as efficiently as possible. Finally, 'monitor performance' where operations and performance is observed and monitored through an organisational hierarchy and through supervision. This basic concept further developed into Fordism and finally into TQM. The mechanistic approach works well when the task is clear and straightforward. A complex task may...
Words: 1956 - Pages: 8
...Max Weber’s Bureaucracy Written by Dr. Wasim Al-Habil College of Commerce The Islamic University of Gaza Beginning with Max Weber, bureaucracies have been regarded as mechanisms that rationalize authority and decision-making in society. Yet subsequent theorists have questioned the rationality of bureaucracies. Which features of modern-day public bureaucracies are rational? Which are not? Buttress your argument with citations from organization and/or public administration theories. Introduction: Max Weber’s work about bureaucracy, translated into English in 1946, was one of the major contributions that has influenced the literature of public administration. However, Van Riper (1997) argues that the work of Weber on bureaucracy has no influence on American PA until the 1950’s. The word bureaucracy is derived from two words; “bureau” and “Kratos.” While the word “bureau” refers to the office the Greek suffix “kratia or kratos” means power or rule. Thus we use the word “bureaucracy” to refer to the power of the office (Hummel, 1998, 307). “Bureaucracy” is rule conducted from a desk or office, i.e. by the preparation and dispatch of written documents and electronic ones. Bureaucracy is borrowed by the field of public administration (PA) from the field of sociology. It was borrowed by PA in much a similar way that practices of business were borrowed from the field of business administration and economics. Weber (1946) presents bureaucracy as both a scientific...
Words: 4936 - Pages: 20
...Conceptual analysis and specification of Morgan’s metaphors using the CAST method Taken from: Gazendam, Henk W.M. (1993). Variety Controls Variety: On the Use of Organization Theories in Information Management. Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff. 400 pp. ISBN 90-01-32950-0. 4.2. An overview of Morgan's metaphors Morgan (1986) distinguishes eight metaphors for organizations: machine, organism, brain, culture, political system, psychic prison, flux and transformation, and instrument of domination. Each metaphor highlights other aspects of organizational life (see Figure 4.1.). For further analysis, the metaphors can be grouped into three groups: the machine group, the organism group, and the mind group. The machine group only contains the machine metaphor (Paragraph 4.3.). The organism group focuses on the dynamic relationship of organization and environment and contains the organism metaphor and the flux and transformation metaphor (Paragraph 4.4.). The mind group (Paragraph 4.5.) contains two subgroups. The first mind subgroup concentrates on the relationship between the minds of persons and the organization as a social construct; it contains the brain metaphor, the culture metaphor, and the psychic prison metaphor. The second mind subgroup focuses on coordination mechanisms and power plays, and encompasses the political system metaphor and the instrument of domination metaphor. metaphor machine highlights efficiency, quality, and timeliness of production processes in a machine...
Words: 16192 - Pages: 65
...A Conceptual Framework for the Design of Organizational Control Mechanisms Author(s): William G. Ouchi Source: Management Science, Vol. 25, No. 9 (Sep., 1979), pp. 833-848 Published by: INFORMS Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2630236 Accessed: 12/12/2008 16:24 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=informs. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship. We work with the scholarly community to preserve their work and the materials they rely upon, and to build a common research platform that promotes the discovery and use of these resources. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. INFORMS is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Management Science...
Words: 9454 - Pages: 38
...[pic] Fred W. Riggs: Contributions to the Study of Comparative Public Administration Howard E. McCurdy, American University [pic] In 1962, the Ford Foundation presented the Comparative administration Group (CAG), a special division of the American Society for public Administration, with one-half million dollars to study methods for improving public administration in developing countries. Public administration had passed recently through a period of widespread optimism about the power of administrative reform. Many practitioner-scholars believed that administration could be improved through the implementation of correct principles. Scarcely 25 years earlier Luther Gulick had suggested that experts were on the verge of discovering principles of administration as immutable as the laws of physics and chemistry. Scholars had rediscovered Woodrow Wilson's dictum that good administrative practices did not depend upon the type of regimen which they were practiced. The United States had achieved great success in reconstructing the economies of Europe and Asia through instruments such as the Marshall Plan. President John F. Kennedy had established the Peace Corps as a means of bringing "trained manpower" to less developed lands. With these trends to inspire them, scholars both prominent and apprentice traveled to foreign countries to share their knowledge about public administration. Many arrived in countries newly emerging from the grip of colonialism and struggling to establish...
Words: 3578 - Pages: 15
...E-Governance for Rural Development Swati Bhatt Sr. Lecturer (Marketing Area), Dept of Management Studies India is a land of diversity. This diversity spans across culture, tradition, language, geography and the economic condition of the people. It is a nation that has a significant number of people who are below the minimal socio-economic benchmarks. This includes rural and urban poor, women in rural areas, street children, people belonging to historically disadvantaged castes and people living in less developed areas. The vulnerability of these sections of society has increased with globalization and this section is prone to become even more marginalized - economically and socially. Successive governments have committed themselves to addressing these divides, but effective implementation of various economic development programmes aimed at individuals belonging to these sections of society has proved an elusive goal. During the 1980s and early 1990s, initial attempts towards e-Governance were made with a focus on networking government departments and developing in-house government applications in the areas of defence, economic monitoring, planning and the deployment of IT to manage data-intensive functions related to elections, census, tax administration etc.80 These applications focused on automation of internal government functions rather than on improving service delivery to citizens. Over the past decade or so, there have been islands of e-Governance initiatives...
Words: 15593 - Pages: 63
...ISSN 1648-2603 ● VIEŠOJI POLITIKA IR ADMINISTRAVIMAS ● 2004. Nr. 13 Accountability and Responsibility in Organizations: the Ethics of Discretion Raymond W. Cox III University of Akron Akron, Ohio, USA The article presents a comprehensive approach to the administrative discretion. The objective of the paper has been to outline a perspective and patterns of behaviour, which are helpful defining "discretion in action". Theoretical discussion on the issue has been extended towards practical implications. Author stresses, that establishing a decision-making architecture, leaders of the organization can create learning and supportive environment, which encourages appropriate and limited use of discretion. Raktažodžiai: atskaitomybė, atsakomybė, diskretiškumas, etika, korupcija, sprendimų priėmimas. Keywords: accountability, responsibility, discretion, ethics, corruption, decision making. Introduction Few aspects of Public Administration engender more controversy than the idea of discretion. For most, the attitude toward the exercise of discretion must be described as ambiguous and even ambivalent. While the necessity of the exercise of discretion is not disputed, there is little agreement on the normative foundation (Bryner, 1987) for that activity. Yet without a normative foundation, there is little basis upon which to judge the exercise of discretion. Recent literature on ethical practices in the governments of Africa has boldly asserted that discretion leads to the breakdown...
Words: 9274 - Pages: 38
