Organizational Theory: Classical Perspectives

Flashcards covering key concepts, theories, and applications of classical organizational theories, specifically Scientific Management and Bureaucracy, with a focus on their relevance to the criminal justice system.

Why is it important to study organizational theories?

They offer information on organizational operations, explain what works and what doesn't, highlight differences and patterns, and provide suggestions for improving efficiency and employee motivation within the criminal justice system.

What are classical organizational theories primarily focused on?

Maximum efficiency, productivity, and the rational conceptualization of organizational processes.

What is 'instrumental rationality' in the context of classical organizational theories?

It means organizations focus on maximizing efficiency from their inception and continuously scrutinize processes to ensure they produce maximum efficiency.

Name the three main perspectives within classical organizational theory.

Scientific Management, Bureaucracy, and Administrative Management.

What is a key characteristic of classical theoretical perspectives regarding employee actions and decision-making?

They are very prescriptive, formulaic, and allow little room for staff discretion, predetermining what staff will do and how.

Who first conceptualized Scientific Management theory and in what year?

Frederick Taylor in 1913.

What was Frederick Taylor primarily concerned with in industrial organizations when developing Scientific Management?

The profit margin and decreased worker output, believing workers were not working as hard as they should.

According to Scientific Management, how can organizations increase productivity and profitability?

Employees need to overcome bad work habits, and managers must select individuals capable of maximum productivity.

What specific example did Taylor use to illustrate scientific management principles in factories?

Precisely monitoring the optimal weight workers carried on their shovels (e.g., 22 pounds) to ensure maximum efficiency.

How are prediction instruments (e.g., law enforcement mapping and risk/need assessments) an application of Scientific Management in the criminal justice system?

They use past data to prescribe future actions and classifications, standardizing tasks for maximum efficiency, similar to identifying the 'best way' (e.g., 22 lbs on a shovel).

Explain how physical agility tests for law enforcement officers are an application of Scientific Management.

They standardize physical requirements based on what data suggests is most efficient and necessary for the job, with all officers mandated to meet these predetermined standards.

Provide an example of Scientific Management in law enforcement responses to misdemeanor domestic violence.

Mandatory arrest policies, often adopted after studies like the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment, found that arrest reduced future violence, thus prescribing a specific response with no officer discretion.

How do sentencing guidelines exemplify Scientific Management in the criminal justice system?

They standardize sentences by writing them into statute, reducing judicial discretion and prescribing appropriate sentences based on historical data or legislative intent.

What is a potential negative consequence of strictly adhering to Scientific Management principles in the criminal justice system?

A significant reduction in discretion, which can be problematic in an open system like criminal justice where flexibility might be necessary given varying circumstances.

In summary, what is the core tenet of Scientific Management regarding job accomplishment?

Identifying the best way to do a job, writing a policy, and then mandating that everyone in the organization follows that policy.

Who created the theory of bureaucracy and in what year?

Max Weber in 1946.

What is the primary focus of the bureaucracy perspective?

The organization itself, seeking to streamline the entire organization rather than isolated tasks or individual workers.

According to the bureaucracy perspective, why do people listen to their bosses (rational legal principles)?

Because bosses control salaries and can fire employees, creating a rational motivation for compliance.

What does 'division of labor' mean within a bureaucracy?

Workers receive specialized tasks, becoming experts in a narrow field or specific area of the organization.

Describe 'hierarchy and vertical complexity' in a bureaucracy.

There are many layers of bosses and superiors, indicating a structured chain of command.

What is 'formalization' in a bureaucracy?

The high dependence on a large number of detailed policies and procedures that guide and direct nearly every aspect of the organization.

How are hiring and promotion typically handled in a bureaucracy?

They are based on merit, encouraging a career path within the same agency where individuals start at the bottom and work their way up through the ranks.

What is the intended outcome of a perfectly functioning bureaucracy?

It becomes a predictable, well-oiled machine that can run itself, limiting arbitrariness regardless of individual personnel.

How does bureaucracy view impersonal relationships among employees?

It minimizes focus on impersonal relationships or employee contentment, prioritizing the organization's overall goals and efficiency.

What was the historical focus of bureaucratizing policing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

To standardize policing, improve officer training, make it a career occupation, remove political influence, and implement more formal policies.

What is a significant potential negative of bureaucracy when applied to an open system like the criminal justice system?

Bureaucracy is consistent with a closed system, and its rigidity can hinder the criminal justice system's ability to adapt quickly to outside factors like new crime concerns, public opinion, or emerging problems.

What negative consequence can arise from bureaucracy's heavy emphasis on the 'means to the end'?

Organizations can lose sight of their main goals (e.g., crime control, public safety, justice) by getting too caught up in following policies, leading to unintended negative consequences.

How does bureaucracy potentially negatively impact the individual worker?

It ignores the individual worker's motivation and happiness, viewing them as merely a part of a larger machine, which can lead to dissatisfaction and high turnover rates.