Organizations
Sky-high view of the workplace…
(Macro)
Market
Organization
Division
Work Group
Individual
(Micro)
What is an organization?
And why are we skipping ahead?
Organization
• Is a group of people who have common goals and who follow a set of operating procedures to develop products and services
Theories of organization
• Classic organization theory
• Discusses the formal structure of the organization rather than processes within the organization
• Bureaucracy was proposed as the ideal form of organization: included a formal hierarchy, division of labor, and a clear set of operating procedures
Classic organization theory
• Division of labor: dividing the performance of tasks into specialized jobs and departments
• Delegation of authority: lower-level employees report to higher-level employees
• Structure: the formal way an organization is designed; the number of levels or height of an organization • Span of control: the number of people who report to one person; the width of the organization
Assumptions of Classic OT
• Motivation consisted of getting the right organizational structure
• Personality, leader style, emotions, and similar concepts were unimportant
• There was “one best” way for all organizations to be
• The organization should control the individual
Human Relations Theory
• Human relations theory: considers the interrelationship between an organization’s requirements and the characteristics of its members
• Theory X: subordinates must be controlled to meet organizational ends
• Theory Y: subordinates would be motivated to meet goals in the absence of organizational controls
Theory X
Theory Y
Human Relations Theory
• Growth Perspective
• Individuals develop and can either be enhanced or stunted by organizations
• 1. From passive to active
• 2. From dependent to independent
• 3. From requiring immediate gratification to being capable of delaying gratification
• 4. From being able to deal with only concrete operations to being able to deal with abstractions
• 5. From having few abilities to having many abilities
Systems Theory
• Newest, shiniest view
• Broadened the view of organizations to say that factors outside the organization affected performance
• Organization is not isolated from the outside world
• Not interested in proposing a “best way” to operate any organization
Climate and Culture
• Climate
• What it is like to work here
• Specific ‘types’ of climates
• Culture
• Created and communicated from higher levels of organization; values of organization; historical
Climate measure example
• Employees are encouraged to develop their skills and abilities • This is not the type of organization that likes to take risks • I feel personally close to my co-workers
• If I make a strategic decision related to my work, I feel that my boss will back me up
• I feel that I have a good measure of control in my work • I am not given much responsibility in my work
What determines climate?
• Leader support and facilitation
• Role stress and lack of harmony
• Job challenge and autonomy
• Work-group cooperation and friendliness
Socialization
• Organizational socialization
• Process by which new employee becomes aware of values and organizational procedures • How does IU (and the
Psychological and Brain
Sciences Department) get students, faculty, and staff to become aware of the university’s values?
We’ve never lost a tailgate…
Schneider’s ASA model