The Development of Management Thought
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Golda Dennis
Sep 18, 2010, 9:24:19 AM9/18/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
Hi All,
Does anyone have any contribution to the question below. We will use
our discussion board to address past paper questions as we discuss the
topic in class....this way, we will have more class time to "revisit"
topics which you are unsure about. Also by typing answers on the
discussion board, we engage in collaborative learning and you will
have individual practice writing out answers.
Please don't be afraid to post questions and answers because you may
feel that your answer may not be the best one...this is the time to
make mistakes and to learn from it (of course you don't want to make
mistakes in your exam) ...
All I ask is that you do your best and most of all, participate!
June 2009 Question 1
(a) Examine the work of Max Weber on the nature of authority in
organisations. (8marks)
Does anyone have any contribution to the question below. We will use
our discussion board to address past paper questions as we discuss the
topic in class....this way, we will have more class time to "revisit"
topics which you are unsure about. Also by typing answers on the
discussion board, we engage in collaborative learning and you will
have individual practice writing out answers.
Please don't be afraid to post questions and answers because you may
feel that your answer may not be the best one...this is the time to
make mistakes and to learn from it (of course you don't want to make
mistakes in your exam) ...
All I ask is that you do your best and most of all, participate!
June 2009 Question 1
(a) Examine the work of Max Weber on the nature of authority in
organisations. (8marks)
suzyq
Sep 21, 2010, 4:01:06 PM9/21/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
Max Weber , well renowned sociologist & historian, proposed that for
authority in an organisation to be effective, it should follow certain
systematic management principles based on impersonal and rational
behaviour - "bureaucracy" was born.
Weber's forms of Authority can be classified in three distinct
groups:
1. Traditional Authority (Kings, Queens, Chiefs) (Very patrrimonially
dominated!)
2. Charismatic Authority (Ghandi, Hitler,martin Luther King) (Hitler
hmmm, food for thought the next time I decide to idolize someone!)
3. Rational-Legal Authority - based on the position of the individual
(Police officers)
Note that someone always has to be Dominant and have Submissive
followers.
Suzette
authority in an organisation to be effective, it should follow certain
systematic management principles based on impersonal and rational
behaviour - "bureaucracy" was born.
Weber's forms of Authority can be classified in three distinct
groups:
1. Traditional Authority (Kings, Queens, Chiefs) (Very patrrimonially
dominated!)
2. Charismatic Authority (Ghandi, Hitler,martin Luther King) (Hitler
hmmm, food for thought the next time I decide to idolize someone!)
3. Rational-Legal Authority - based on the position of the individual
(Police officers)
Note that someone always has to be Dominant and have Submissive
followers.
Suzette
Golda
Sep 21, 2010, 4:53:29 PM9/21/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
Thanks Suzette for your contribution! Anyone feel free to add to this
discussion until the next question is posted.
discussion until the next question is posted.
Carlene Philip
Sep 22, 2010, 6:55:17 AM9/22/10
to abe-organisti...@googlegroups.com
Max Weber’s Forms of Authority • Traditional authority – Subordinate obedience based upon custom or tradition (e.g., kings, queens, chiefs). This is more or less reflexive and unquestioning obedience because of the fact that this is just the way things were always done e.g the power and authority of the Royal Family (Queen Elizabeth of England etc.) given to them by lineage. • Charismatic authority – Subordinates voluntarily comply with a leader because of his or her special personal qualities or abilities (e.g., Martin Luther King, Gandhi). The voluntary submission to this kind of authority is used as a benchmark to attaining attributes of the leader. The leader becomes your role model. • Rational-legal authority – Subordinate obedience based upon the position held by superiors within the organization (e.g., police officers, executives, supervisors). This authority is not readily submitted to because it retains the philosophy of the "Big Stick" mentality. |
Golda
Sep 22, 2010, 8:56:15 AM9/22/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
Thank you Carlene!
On Sep 22, 6:55 am, Carlene Philip <carlene.resp...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Max Weber’s Forms of Authority
> • Traditional authority
> – Subordinate obedience based upon custom or tradition (e.g., kings, queens, chiefs). This is more or less reflexive and unquestioning obedience because of the fact that this is just the way things were always done e.g the power and authority of the Royal Family (Queen Elizabeth of England etc.) given to them by lineage.
> • Charismatic authority
> – Subordinates voluntarily comply with a leader because of his or her special personal qualities or abilities (e.g., Martin Luther King, Gandhi). The voluntary submission to this kind of authority is used as a benchmark to attaining attributes of the leader. The leader becomes your role model.
> • Rational-legal authority
> – Subordinate obedience based upon the position held by superiors within the organization (e.g., police officers, executives, supervisors). This authority is not readily submitted to because it retains the philosophy of the "Big Stick" mentality.
>
> --- On Sat, 9/18/10, Golda Dennis <golda.den...@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sep 22, 6:55 am, Carlene Philip <carlene.resp...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Max Weber’s Forms of Authority
> • Traditional authority
> – Subordinate obedience based upon custom or tradition (e.g., kings, queens, chiefs). This is more or less reflexive and unquestioning obedience because of the fact that this is just the way things were always done e.g the power and authority of the Royal Family (Queen Elizabeth of England etc.) given to them by lineage.
> • Charismatic authority
> – Subordinates voluntarily comply with a leader because of his or her special personal qualities or abilities (e.g., Martin Luther King, Gandhi). The voluntary submission to this kind of authority is used as a benchmark to attaining attributes of the leader. The leader becomes your role model.
> • Rational-legal authority
> – Subordinate obedience based upon the position held by superiors within the organization (e.g., police officers, executives, supervisors). This authority is not readily submitted to because it retains the philosophy of the "Big Stick" mentality.
>
Golda
Sep 22, 2010, 10:43:50 PM9/22/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
Hi All, please feel free to contribute to the following questions..
June 2009 Question 1 (b), (c)
(b)Explain the characteristics of a bureaucracy (9marks)
AND
(c)Use an example to discuss the effectiveness of bureaucracies in a
dynamic and changing business world (8 marks)
June 2009 Question 1 (b), (c)
(b)Explain the characteristics of a bureaucracy (9marks)
AND
(c)Use an example to discuss the effectiveness of bureaucracies in a
dynamic and changing business world (8 marks)
Carlene Philip
Sep 23, 2010, 8:30:11 AM9/23/10
to abe-organisti...@googlegroups.com
| Please see attached document --- On Thu, 9/23/10, Golda <golda....@gmail.com> wrote: |
|
suzyq
Sep 23, 2010, 1:31:39 PM9/23/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
Junne 2009 - Question 1 (b)
In order to explain the characteristics of a Bureaucracy, one must
first comprhend what the term 'Beaucracy' refers to. Beaucracy can be
thought of as a system of management that that is very structured,
where rules and procedures govern every movement, where control exists
as a formal hierarchial entity and impersonal and rational approaches
to any task is strictly adhered to. This being said we are able to
view any beaucracy as having the undermentioned characteristics;
1. A formal hierarchial structure where each level asserts a very
specific amount of authority and where each level controls the level
below and is controlled by the level above.
2. Where there exists clearly defined rules and procedures to govern
all forseeable events and when unforseeable events occur, allows for
decisions made at higher levels to be consistently executed at all
lower levels.
3. Organisation by Specialisation, persons are placed into particular
posts based on their skill sets and its relation to the duties of the
post being filled and does not take into account the employees
personality or other available talents.
4. Impersonality where the ideal official conducts his office in a
spirit of detached impersonality both internally with work colleauges
and externally with customers or clients, where all that is considered
is how the "rules" govern the particular case.
5. Employment where recruitment is based on qualifications rather that
personality (similar to specialisation), where there is a great sense
of job security and where job promotions are based partly on
achievements and partly by seniority.
suzyq
Sep 23, 2010, 2:30:00 PM9/23/10
to ABE Organistional Behavior
June 2009 Question 1 (c)
An example of a Bureaucracy would be the Public Health Sector of
Trinidad & Tobago. Public Health Imstitutions are notoriously known
for their strict adherence to structure where in order to visit a
doctor one must first go through a barrage of perliminary
documentation procedures, visits with clerks and junior staff nurses
who must all declare you 'fit' or rather 'unfit' by going thrugh their
checklist of information to obtain from you in order to be seen by an
attending doctor. Not only is the process tedious, one also has to
deal with the general lack of emotion (impersionality) displayed by
each individual you encounter as you traverse your way throgh a myriad
departments. Where for every problem encountered guidance is always
sought from someone at a higher level and instructions or procedures
to move forward always come from someone at the higher level and even
though someone on a lower level may not be in agreement with the
instructions the instruction must be followed implicitly and only
afterwards can any redress be made, again, using specific guidelines
and procedures set out for this .
So, while this type of bureacracy seeks to make the provision of
health services to the wider public more efficient and does so
successfully for the most part, it also has several drawbacks, in that
when dealing with customers of the instiution and where health is
concerned being trated as an inanimate being goes against the very
definition of what makes a human different from an animal our ability
to have understanding and compassion.
Also, beacuse one of the features of a bureaucracy is that of job
security which means less stress and a willingness to perform their
tasks faithfully it can also be argued that many of the workers within
the system become complacent and encouragement to go beyond their
natural scope of work is lacking leading to a service that is simply
adequate rather than outstanding.
NB: Hope this makes sense - I got a little carried away. Lol!
Suzette
An example of a Bureaucracy would be the Public Health Sector of
Trinidad & Tobago. Public Health Imstitutions are notoriously known
for their strict adherence to structure where in order to visit a
doctor one must first go through a barrage of perliminary
documentation procedures, visits with clerks and junior staff nurses
who must all declare you 'fit' or rather 'unfit' by going thrugh their
checklist of information to obtain from you in order to be seen by an
attending doctor. Not only is the process tedious, one also has to
deal with the general lack of emotion (impersionality) displayed by
each individual you encounter as you traverse your way throgh a myriad
departments. Where for every problem encountered guidance is always
sought from someone at a higher level and instructions or procedures
to move forward always come from someone at the higher level and even
though someone on a lower level may not be in agreement with the
instructions the instruction must be followed implicitly and only
afterwards can any redress be made, again, using specific guidelines
and procedures set out for this .
So, while this type of bureacracy seeks to make the provision of
health services to the wider public more efficient and does so
successfully for the most part, it also has several drawbacks, in that
when dealing with customers of the instiution and where health is
concerned being trated as an inanimate being goes against the very
definition of what makes a human different from an animal our ability
to have understanding and compassion.
Also, beacuse one of the features of a bureaucracy is that of job
security which means less stress and a willingness to perform their
tasks faithfully it can also be argued that many of the workers within
the system become complacent and encouragement to go beyond their
natural scope of work is lacking leading to a service that is simply
adequate rather than outstanding.
NB: Hope this makes sense - I got a little carried away. Lol!
Suzette
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