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Boundless Management
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Chapter 3

Organizational Theory

Book Version 10
By Boundless
Boundless Management
Management
by Boundless
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Section 1
Why Study Organizational Theory
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What is Organizational Behavior?

Organizational behavior is the field of study that investigates how organizational structures affect behavior within organizations.

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Why Study Organizational Theory?

Organizational theory studies organizations to identify how they solve problems and how they maximize efficiency and productivity.

Section 2
Classical Perspectives
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Classical Versus Behavioral Perspectives

The classical perspective focuses on direct inputs to efficiency, while the behavioral perspective examines indirect inputs too.

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Scientific Management: Taylor and the Gilbreths

Scientific management focuses on improving efficiency and output through scientific studies of workers' processes.

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Bureaucratic Organizations: Weber

Weber's bureaucracy focused on creating rules and regulations to simplify complex procedures in societies and workplaces.

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Administrative Management: Fayol's Principles

Fayol's approach differed from scientific management in that it focused on efficiency through management training and behavioral characteristics.

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Flaws in the Classical Perspectives

The classical approach to management is often criticized for viewing a worker as a mere tool to improve efficiency.

Section 3
Behavioral Perspectives
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The Behavioral-Science Approach

Behavioral science uses research and the scientific method to determine and understand behavior in the workplace.

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Behaviorism: Follett, Munsterberg, and Mayo

Behaviorism initiated a focus on the psychological and human factors influencing workers.

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The Human Side: Hawthorne

The Hawthorne studies found that workers were more responsive to group involvement and managerial attention than to financial incentives.

Managerial Assumption: McGregor

McGregor introduced Theories X and Y, which summarize and compare the classical management and behavioral management perspectives.

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Productivity: Argyris

Argyris's theory of single- and double-loop learning has been applied to management theory to suggest the best ways for employees to learn.

Section 4
Modern Thinking
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Quantitative and Analytical Management Tools

Quantitative tools are used by management to determine where a company is doing well or struggling compared to the industry and competitors.

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Operations-Management Tools

Six Sigma and Lean are two popular operations-management theories that help managers improve the efficiency of their production processes.

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The Systems Viewpoint

Systems thinking is an approach to problem solving that considers the overall system instead of focusing on specific parts of a system.

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The Contingency Viewpoint

The contingency viewpoint of management proposes that there is no standard for management; instead, management depends on the situation.

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Quality Control and Assurance

Quality assurance and quality control are intended to ensure that products are created with the fewest number of defects possible.

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Evidence-Based Management

Evidence-based management emphasizes the importance of managers using the scientific method to make decisions.

Section 5
Evolving Organizations
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Knowledge Management and Behavior Modification

Knowledge management and behavior modification are tactics employers use to ensure organizational growth and adaptability.

Accelerated Change and Adaptation

Change management facilitates employee adaptation to organizational change.

The Role of the Manager in an Evolving Organization

Managers play a number of roles in evolving organizations, including leader, negotiator, figurehead, liaison, and communicator.

You are in this book
Boundless Management by Boundless
Previous Chapter
Chapter 2
Organizational Structure
  • Defining Organization
  • Components of an Organization
  • Common Organizational Structures
  • Factors to Consider in Organizational Design
  • Trends in Organization
Current Chapter
Chapter 3
Organizational Theory
  • Why Study Organizational Theory
  • Classical Perspectives
  • Behavioral Perspectives
  • Modern Thinking
  • Evolving Organizations
Next Chapter
Chapter 4
Organizational Culture and Innovation
  • Culture
  • Shaping Organizational Culture
  • Adapting and Innovating
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Intrapreneurship
and 2 more sections...
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