A. ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY 20% - 20 ITEMS

(2) APPLY THE DIFFERENT ORG THEORIES TO HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN ORG. SETTINGS IN:

INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

- is a branch of psychology that applies the principles

of psychology to the workplace

● Purpose: “to enhance the dignity and performance of

human beings, and the organizations they work in, by

advancing the science and knowledge of human behavior”

Approaches in I/O Psychology

Industrial Approach

- Focuses on determining the competencies needed to

perform a job, staffing the organization with

employees who have those competencies, and

increasing those competencies through training

Organizational Approach

- Creates an organizational structure and culture that

will motivate employees to perform well, give them

the necessary information to do their jobs, and

provide working conditions that are safe and result

in an enjoyable and satisfying work/life

environment

MAJOR FIELDS IN I/O PSYCHOLOGY

● Personnel Psychology – concentrates on the selection and

evaluation of employees

- Analyzing jobs

- Recruiting applicants

- Selecting employees

- Determining salary levels

- Training employees

- Evaluating employee performance

● Organizational Psychology – investigates behavior of

employees with the context of an organization

- Issues of leadership

- Job satisfaction

- Employee motivation

- Organizational communication

- Conflict management

- Organizational change

- Group processes within an organization

● Human Factors/Ergonomics – interaction between

humans and machines

- Workplace design

- Human-machine interaction

- Ergonomics

- Physical fatigue and stress

ETHICAL DILEMMAS

● Are ambiguous situations that require a personal judgment

of what is right or wrong because there are no rules, policies,

or laws guiding such decisions

● Individuals often rely on their morals and personal values,

which often leads to different decisions by different people

in similar situations

Two Types of Ethical Dilemmas

Type A

- There is a high level of uncertainty as to what is

right or wrong, there appears to be no best solution,

and there are both positive and negative

consequences to a decision

Type B

- Also called rationalizing dilemmas, the difference

between right and wrong is much clearer in a Type

A dilemma

- Usually, individuals know what is right but choose

the solution that is most advantageous to

themselves

ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY

Organization – collectivities of parts that cannot accomplish

their goals effectively if they operated separately

- A tool people use to coordinate their actions to

obtain something they desire or value to achieve a

goal and create value (value generators)

- Social entity, made up of people that agree on, and

work towards goals

- Org creates value, or else the “die”

- How do org create value? Environment (Customers,

Suppliers) > Input (Raw Materials, IT, HR) >

Process (Machines, Computers, KSAOs) > Output

(Products, Services)

ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY – a set of propositions

that explains or predicts how groups and individuals behave

in varying organizational structures and circumstances; study

of the structures and operations of social organizations,

including companies and bureaucratic institutions, applied

through the organizational structures

- Organization – a coordinated group of people who

perform tasks to produce goods or services,

colloquially referred to as companies

● Set of propositions that explains or predicts how groups

and individuals behave in varying organizational structures

and circumstances

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● Includes analysis of productivity and performance of

organizations and the actions of the employees and groups

within them

● Aims to provide an overview of how organizations

functions and the things an organization needs to succeed -

become more efficient and become more profitable

4 Major Structural Principles

Functional Principle

- The concept behind division of labor; organizations

should be divided into units that perform similar

functions (horizontal growth) into areas of

specialization

- Orgs should be divided into units that perform

similar functions

- Relates to horizontal growth of the org - the

formation of new functional units (depts) along the

horizontal dimension

Scalar Principle

- Refers to the chain of command that grows with

levels added to the organization (vertical growth)

➢ Each level has its own degree of authority

and responsibility in meeting

organizational goals, with higher levels

having more responsibility

➢ Unity of Command – each subordinate

should be accountable to only one superior

- Communication and authority should flow through

a defined chain of command

- Deals with orgs vertical growth

- Objectives: hierarchy, establishment,

decision-making, clarity, accountability,

communication flow

Line/Staff Principle - meet major goals of the organization

- Line Functions – have the primary responsibility for

meeting the major goals of the organization, like the

production department

- Staff Functions – support the line’s activities, but

are regarded as subsidiary in overall importance to

the line functions

Span of Control - Support line’s activities but are regarded

as subsidiary in overall importance to line functions

- The number of subordinates a manager is

responsible for supervising

➢ According to Lyndall Urwick; the optimal

range of span of control is about 5 to 6

subordinates

- Large Span-of-Control produce flat organizations,

whilst, smaller Span-of-Control produce taller

organizations

TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONAL THEORIES

Organizational

Theories

Focuses on WORK

- Routine tasks and

responsibilities of a position

- Highlights what is common

among individuals

Formal Organizational Structure

- Has set rules

- Expressed through hierarchies

(chain of command)

Theorists: Taylor, Weber, and Fayol

Neoclassical

Organizational

Theories

Focuses on WORKER

- The individual and how they

relate to others

- Highlights the individual

differences among employees

Informal Organizational Structure

- Has no set rules

- Negative and Positive Politics

Theorists: Mayo, Maslow, McGregor,

Argyris

Classical

Modern

Organizational

Theories

Focuses on INTERNAL and

EXTERNAL factors

- Integrates multiple disciplines

- Emphasizes that no

one-size-fits-all approach

exists

Theorists: Fiedler, Maslow, McGregor,

Herzberg, Argyris, Mintzberg

Note: Green highlight on TOS A 1.1 refers to the organizational

theories that are listed under TOS 1.3, and for those who are not

highlighted, we could assume that it is part of org theories that isn't

under the given list.

Classical Organizational Theory

➔ Which emerged in the first few decades of the

20th century

➔ Focuses mainly on structural relationships in

organizations

➔ Organizations exists for economic reasons and to

accomplish productivity goals

➔ The basic ingredient of any organization and then

addresses how organizations should best

structured to accomplish its objectives

➔ There is a “right” structure for an organization

➔ Assumes there is one best configuration to

accomplish goals

➔ Scientific Analysis will identify the one best way

to organize for production

➔ Deal with the formal organization and concepts

to increase management efficiency

➔ Both people and organizations act in accordance

with rational economic principles

➔ To be successful in this new economy, industrial

and mechanical engineers are needed to organize

production systems to keep the machines busy

and work flowing

➔ Views organizations as machines

➔ Has clearly defined roles, hierarchical structures,

and formal rules and procedures

➔ Emphasizes efficiency, specialization, and

predictability in achieving organizational goals

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Criticisms of Classical Theory

● Neglects the importance of informal groups

● Undermines the influence of outside factors on

individual behavior

● Does not care about humanistic elements

● Communication is one-way, not two-way

● Has little concern for participation, personality or

leadership style

● Assumes that there is only one best configuration

● Ignored the possibility that employee behavior

may also affect the organization in return

Application in HR Management

● Job Analysis and Job Description

● Training

● Compensation

● Hierarchical and Functional Organizational

Structures

4 Basic Tenets:

- A system of differentiated activities. All

organizations are composed of the activities and

functions performed on them and the

relationships among these activities and

functions; activities that are linked to each other

- People. Although organizations are composed of

activities and functions, people perform tasks and

exercise authority

- Cooperation toward a goal. Cooperation must

exist among the people performing their various

activities to achieve a unity of purpose in pursuit

of their common goal

- Authority. Is established through

superior-subordinate relationships, and such

authority is needed to ensure cooperation among

people pursuing their goals

Scientific Management by Frederick Taylor

- The organization is a machine—a pragmatic

machine whose focus is simply to run more

effectively

- Taylorism – as this approach was sometimes

called—had as its premise the notion that there is

one best way to get the job done

- Conduct studies that gather data indicating what

the fastest and most efficient method is, then

implement that method

➢ Conducted time and motion studies and

analyzed temperature, illumination, and

other conditions of work, all while

looking at the effects of these conditions

on productivity and efficiency

- Taylor believed that scientific principles could be

applied to the study of work behavior to help

increase worker efficiency and productivity

- Based on the concept of planning of work to

achieve efficiency, standardization,

specialization, and simplification

- The advantages of productivity improvement

should go to workers

- Physical stress and anxiety should be eliminated

- Capabilities of workers should be developed

through training

- Traditional boss concept should be eliminated

- Mainly associated with high levels of job

specialization and standardization

- The most effective companies have detailed

procedures and work practices developed by

engineers, enforced by supervisors, and executed

by employees

- Taylor, along with Frank and Lillian Gilbreth

implemented the principles of scientific

management

- Worker efficiency would lead to greater

managerial efficiency

- Scientific Selection of the worker

- Management and labor cooperation rather than

conflict

- Scientific training of the worker

● Highlights that there should be a system in managing

employees

- Planning of work to achieve efficiency

- Standardization

- Specialization and simplification

● Views the organization as a machine whose focus is to

run effectively by following a system

● Conducted time and motion studies to identify its

effects on productivity and efficiency

Four Principles of Scientific Management (Frederick

W. Taylor)

1. Science, Not Rule-of-Thumb

- Replace traditional "rule-of-thumb" methods

with scientific analysis of each job.

- Management gathers data and studies work

methods to determine the most efficient way to

perform tasks.

2. Scientific Selection and Training of Workers

- Workers are carefully (scientifically) selected

based on their qualifications and abilities.

- They are then trained and developed to perform

their jobs efficiently using the best methods.

3. Cooperation Between Management and Workers

- Management and labor should work together

rather than in conflict to ensure that scientifically

developed methods are followed.

- Scientific selection, training, and supervision are

combined to improve efficiency and productivity.

4. Equal Division of Work and Responsibility

- Management assumes responsibility for

planning, studying, and organizing the work,

while workers focus on performing the tasks.

- Work is redistributed, with management taking

over planning and decision-making

responsibilities that were previously left to

workers.

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Bureaucracy by Max Weber

- Max Weber – a German sociologist who studied

organizations in the late 1800s and early 1900s

- Bureaucracy – describes the structure,

organization, and operation of many efficient

organizations

- Ideal form of organization

- Includes formal hierarchy, division of labor, and

a clear set of operating procedures

- Well-defined authority hierarchy with strict rules

for governing behavior, with few members with

highest status on the top

- Increase productivity by reducing inefficiencies

in organizational operations

- Highlights the processes / rules and regulations

within the organization

- Characterized by rules, standardized processes,

procedures and requirements, meticulous

division of labor, and clear hierarchies

- Includes a formal hierarchy, division of labor,

and set of operating procedures

- Lengthy process = risk prevention

Characteristics of a Bureaucratic Organization

- Specialization of labor

- Well-defined Authority Hierarchy

- Formal Rules and Procedures

- Impersonality – behavior is based on logical

reasoning rather than emotional thinking

- Employment decisions based on merit

- Emphasis on written records

4 Major Features of Bureaucracy

Each job is specialized position with its own set of

responsibilities and duties

- Division of Labor: each job is a specialized

position with its own set of responsibilities and

duties; division of tasks performed in an

organization

➢ Employees do only the particular tasks

and duties assigned to their jobs

➢ Pros: allows for taking advantage of

strengths of individual

➢ One potential difficulty involves the

coordination of various tasks handled by

various employees

➢ Structure: formal way an org is designed

in terms of division of labor, delegation

of authority, and span of control

- Top-down Pyramidal Organization: tend to be

top-down pyramidal organization

➢ The organization has a clear hierarchy

➢ Higher-level managers supervise

lower-level employees.

- Delegation of Authority: approach whereby

supervisors assign tasks to separate employees

and hold them responsible for completing these

tasks (Micromanagers); information about which

lower-level employees report to higher-level

employees; supervisors assign particular tasks to

separate employees; avoid micromanaging

- Span of Control: number of subordinates who

report to a given supervisor; ensure proper

management and coordination

➢ A smaller span means closer

supervision, while a larger span means

one manager oversees more employees.

➢ Ideal is span is 4 members (higher

levels) and 8-12 members (lower levels)

Criticisms of Bureaucratic Approach

● Ineffective for orgs operating in rapidly changing

environments; difficult to adapt to changes

● Work can be so simplified and unchallenging that

workers might be dissatisfied and unmotivated

Principles of Bureaucratic Approach

Structure

- Hierarchy, top-down, and uses legitimate power

- Steps that have to be followed in order to do a

certain process (hierarchy)

Specialization

- Functional basis, separated according to

specialization

- Concentrating on and becoming expert in a

particular area

Predictability and Stability

- There must be rules and regulations

- Processes predict results

Rationality

- Equal treatment, no bias/subjective in selection

- No one is excluded from the rules simply

because of their background (ascribing to logic

rather than emotions

Administrative Theory by Henri Fayol

- Focused on the organization and structure of

work tasks; looked at how management and

workers are organized within a business to allow

for the completion of tasks

- Aims to improve organizational productivity by

focusing on methods that managers can use to

synchronize internal processes

- In contrast to the scientific approach to

management, which posited that worker

efficiency would lead to managerial efficiency

- Focused on what managers do

● Highlights the characteristics of admin / leadership

positions

- Accomplishment of tasks

- Include principles of management

- Concept of line and staff

- Committees and functions of management

● Do not see individual differences (more on business

side of the person)

Elements of Administrative Theory

1. Line and Staff

- Line: Managers who have direct authority over

employees and are responsible for achieving

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organizational goals.

- Staff: Specialists who advise and support line

managers (e.g., HR, Legal, Accounting).

2. Committee

- A group of people assigned to discuss problems,

make decisions, or provide recommendations.

- Encourages cooperation and better

decision-making.

3. Functions of Management

- Fayol identified the 5 main functions of

management:

➢ Planning – Setting goals and deciding

how to achieve them.

➢ Organizing – Arranging resources and

assigning tasks.

➢ Commanding – Directing and

supervising employees to accomplish

work.

➢ Leading (Directing) – Guiding and

motivating employees.

➢ Controlling – Monitoring performance

and correcting problems.

4. Principles of Administrative Theory

- The basic guidelines or rules for effective

management

- They explain how managers should organize,

lead, and coordinate an organization to improve

efficiency and achieve organizational goals.

14 Principles of Administrative Theory

Division of Work

- Individual functions based on specific job

specialization

- Can increase productivity

- Work should be divided into specialized tasks

to increase efficiency

- Employees can become more proficient in the

accomplishment of a limited set of activities –

thus, improving their output

- Employed: working in the person’s chosen

field of specialization

- Underemployed: employed in a field that is

not under a person’s specialization

- Unemployed: no work

Authority and Responsibility

- Issues commands and comes with

responsibility

- Imperative / Command to follow and

accomplish organizational objectives

- Managers should have the authority of issue

commands, but it comes with responsibility to

ensure the work gets done

Discipline

- The subordinate must fully obey the

instructions from superiors (discipline through

management)

- Impose disciplinary actions

- Exist across the hierarchy

Unity of Command

- Only one boss/executive from whom a worker

receives instructions

- Taking orders from one superior

Unity of Direction

- Working under a singular plan

- Each workgroup or department is working

under a singular plan that coordinates effort

(guided by one supervisor)

- Members of the organization should jointly

work toward the same goal

Subordination of Individual Interest

- Interests of individuals are subordinate to the

general interests of the group or department of

company

- Not one person is more important than the

others

- Everyone should benefit

Remuneration

- Compensation is used to incentivize worker

performance

- Can be based on diverse factors such as job

responsibility, length of stay, compensable

benefits, tenures, bonuses, hazard pay,

allowances, profit and gain sharing

Centralization

- Decision-making is either centralized or

decentralized depending upon the

characteristics of the organization and worker

competency

- All decisions are centered on the upper

management

- Decentralization: decisions come from lower

management

Line of Authority (Scalar Chain)

- Hierarchy of authority that places workers

below managers in the reporting structure

Order

- Well-defined rules and standards for the work

environment and work responsibilities

- There is a proper place for everyone in the

company

Equity

- Principle of fairness

- Fairness / justice should prevail in the

organization

- Ex. overhead costs for managers that have

more responsibilities

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Stability of Tenure

- Organizations need to have low turnover;

allows employees to learn their jobs, develop

skills, and acquire loyalty

- Job security improves performance

Initiative

- Allowing employees to create plans and carry

them out

- Should exist among the employees

Esprit de Corps

- Sense of belonging within the organization

- Team spirit / camaraderie in the organization

- Pride, allegiance, union is strength, sense of

belongingness

● Managerial practices are the key to driving efficiency in

organizations

● Seeks to heighten managerial performance instead on

individual worker efficiency

● Proposed the creation of work groups and functional

departments wherein distinct activities are performed

which contribute to the accomplishment of greater tasks

Progressive Discipline

- Method of discipline that uses graduated steps

for dealing with problems related to an

employee’s conduct or performance that do not

meet clearly defined standards and policies

POSDCORB is a foundational management framework

developed in 1937 by public administration experts Luther

Gulick and Lyndall Urwick

- POSDCORB is a framework that describes the

seven major functions of management performed

by managers to achieve organizational goals.

➢ Planning – Setting goals and determining

the best course of action.

➢ Organizing – Arranging resources, tasks,

and responsibilities.

➢ Staffing – Recruiting, selecting, training,

and developing employees.

➢ Directing – Leading, supervising, and

motivating employees.

➢ Coordinating – Ensuring that different

departments and activities work together

effectively.

➢ Reporting – Keeping supervisors and

stakeholders informed through reports and

communication.

➢ Budgeting – Planning, managing, and

controlling the organization's finances