Assignment 6 - Organizations as machines

Overview

    The focus this week is on the classical theorists.  We will attempt to understand the historical context in which they wrote, their prescriptions for reforming organizations, and the legacy of their ideas in our organizational life today.  The metaphor that captures the classical theorists' conceptualization of an organization is a "machine."   You will be asked to reflect on this metaphor to see how well it still explains the structure of and operations of the organization in which you are currently employed.  

Reading Assignment

• Morgan Chapters 1, 2, 10, 11
• An example of a one page student essay in answering the questions below.

Reflection and Discussion

Go to the topic "Organizations as Machines" and answer the following questions:

• Briefly describe the structure and environment of the organization in which you work.
• To what extent does the metaphor of the machine still influence the design and management of your particular work setting?

Read the postings of your colleagues to get an overview of the range of organizations represented by members of this class. Be prepared to discuss in class:

• How does your organization compare with the organizations of your colleagues? 
• Is it more mechanistic or less?  Is the environment more dynamic or less?  How are these things measured?
• What factors are most closely associated with an organization's structure? 

Additional References

    To read more about one of the most important classical theorists, check out the following web sites:

•     Lecture on Max Weber by Dr. Frank Elwell, Murrary State
•     Lecture on what Max Weber says about bureaucracy by R.J. Kikullen, Macquarie University in Australia.

created by Dennis Hostetler,  dhostet@siue.edu
last updated: January 8, 2002