Organizations as Machines

1
Chapter 2

• Organizations as Machines

2
Machine

• 1) Tzu-Gong and the Old Man
• Tzu-Gong Machines are good because
• Old Man Machines are problematic because

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Bureaucracy as Machines

• 1) We expect organizations to be routinized,
  efficient, reliable, and predictable (p.13
  Morgan).
• Which rules convey how org. are expected to be
  like machines?
• This idea assumes that there is ONE best way to
  do thingsWhat does this assumption mean?
• How has the machine concept shaped our lives
  outside of organizations?

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Bureaucracy as Machines

• 2) What makes bureaucracy so attractive to
  capitalists?
• Think of another form of society in which
  bureaucracy would be shunned?

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Bureaucracy and Democracy

• Bureaucracy can be efficient, but Weber argued it
  hampers democracy.
• Why?

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Characteristics of Bureaucracy and Classical
Management Theory

• 3) Major Characteristics of Bur and the Machine
• Fixed Divisions of Tasks
• Hierarchy (centralization)
• Rules and Regulations
• Evidence of the above in organizations.

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Bureacracy leads to

• 1) Positive traits
• 2) Negative Traits

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Scientific Management

• 1) Frederick Taylor Engineer who believed that
  control led to effeciency.
• 2) Characteristics of SM
• Only those who are most knowledgeable for a
  position should receive job.
• Managers retain control over every aspect of job.
• Have managers scientifically determine what is
  most efficient way to complete a job
• Have managers train workers.
• Have managers watch workers to make sure they are
  completing job accurately.

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Taylor continued

• 3) Taylorism creates extreme DOL and deskilled
  workers ---- why?
• Give examples of jobs that have been affected by
  Taylors ideas.
• When Taylor was writing, other modes of
  organizational structures were being developed
  the cooperative. Why did managers adopt SM and
  shun cooperatives?

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Strenghts and Weaknesses of Machine

• 1) Strengths
• 2) Weaknesses

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How to Apply the Machine

• 1) Which concepts would you consider fundamental
  to the machine metaphor?