Brief Analysis of All Four Theoretical Concepts

Master of Business Administration - UoPeople

BUS 5113 Organization Theory and Behavior

Program Advisor:

Professor, Shubhahara Manohar

Student Nr s276016

Silva Cuvalela Calei

November 15, 2021

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Brief Analysis of All Four Theoretical Concepts

Organizational Behavior “is a field of study that investigates the impact that

individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations for the
purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s
effectiveness” (Robbins, 2001, p. 9).

Over this unit 1, Introduction to the Organization Theory and Behavior, I have
reviewed four theoretical contributions as follows:

1. Max Weber - Bureaucracy and Organization Structure

2. Frederick Taylor - Scientific Management

3. Henri Fayol - Administrative Theory

4. Herbert Simon - Administrative Behavior

They are also called Contributions Theory Schools. “Although the Schools differ,
they share the perceptions that a formalization structure is a prescribed behavior for
the staff ´s common behavior” Laegaard, J. & Bindslev, M. (2006, P. 13).

In this paper, I am going to offer a brief analysis of all four theoretical concepts and
then pick the one I feel is the most influential from both historical and managerial
perspectives. Explain. And consider how these concepts impacted the development of
the current organizational theories.

Max Weber, believed organizations should look like the legal system. Hence, he
developed the bureaucracy model. He saw most workplaces favor to familiar people
and kinship when it came to hiring and making decisions. The majority of
organizations did not have the skill-based employees needed to working for them.
Weber believed the presence of clear rules and guidelines would optimize
performance and staffing while decreasing favoritism. Today bureaucracy can be seen
in organizations with referral programs, structure, and leadership management.

Frederick Taylor, was interested in bringing efficiency and productivity within the
workplace. He believed by providing simple procedures and fair paying opportunities,

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employees would be more productive and efficient in their performance. As a result,
Taylor created the scientific management theory, meaning there is only one method to
complete tasks. Managers focused on training and specializing employees for tasks
while employees managed the tasks itself; there was no room for common sense or
suggestions. Although Scientific Management is no longer used for management
approaches, today, it is still used as instructions and procedures for product and
technical guides.

At the same time, another organizational approach was developed; a theory opposing
Frederick Taylor’s.

Henri Fayol wanted to create a rational perspective where administrative processes

was the focus versus technical processes (Lagarraed). In reality, both Taylor’s and
Fayol’s approach implied specialization for task performance. Also can be understood
as departmentalization, specialization would group employees with similar training
and skills into small departments. Fayol believed managers should be confident in
their managerial skills such as planning, coordination, and compliance. Therefore, the
need for continuing education became important. Today, with a “top-down” logical
approach, you can see Fayol’s theory being used in militant organizations. Fayol was
heavily criticized by theorist Herbert Simon for not including all details of
administrative processes.   

Herbert Simon developed the administrative behavior theory from Taylor’s scientific
management theory. At a macro-level, he focused on the process of decision-making
within an organization. He believed humans could not gain all information necessary
to make full logical decisions; instead we utilize the information we have and create
good results. The administrative behavior theory focuses on how the decisions of staff
can directly affect organizational goals. An organization that centralizes an authority
figure within a group or department would also bring good results; the authority
would focus on the “what” decisions and the employee focused on the “how”
decisions. Today, we can see the administrative behavior theory within strategic
departments such as human resources, marketing, and sales.

Having analyzed the above four organizational theory contributions, based on

historical and managerial present perspective, it is my understanding that Max

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Weber’s bureaucracy model is the most influential theory. For the following reasons:
In the past, bureaucracy created many good limits for an organization to run
effectively. Processes were created to separate work into areas. Lastly, bureaucracy
brought on the policy of providing equal treatment to all employees. Today, the
impact of bureaucracy has created multiple departments and positions within
organizations to create structure of limitations for management and employees. Today
we find that there is documented policies for most company issues to assist in internal
control, compliance, safety, and functionality.

How these concepts impacted the development of the current organizational

theories?

Overall, these concepts impacted the development of today’s organizational theories

by providing a starting point in revolution in organization management and
operations. Each concept has brought a strategy and process we utilize today. In
addition, the influence of organizational theory improved the outlook of work and
even made organizations look at their culture as vital to their goals.

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References


 Laegaard, J., & Bindslev, M. (2006). Organizational Theory (1st ed.). Ventus
Publishing.
 Haynes, A. (2017, March 8). 7 warning signs you’re the dreaded
micromanager. Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/289
699
 Haggarty-Weir, C., Dr. (2018, June 17). Organizational Theory: Then and
Now. Retrieved February 4, 2019,
from https://mostlyscience.com/2018/04/organizational-theory-then-and-now/

 Shuttleworth, M. (2009, October 10). Hawthorne
Effect. Explorable. https://explorable.com/hawthorne-effect