PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION,ORGANIZATION THEORY, DECISION MAKING

Session guide: Organizational theories
Reading note: Organizational theories
FORMAT - Plenary participatory lecture
TRAINER
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session, participants will be able to understand and appreciate:
1. Classical, neoclassical and modern theories of organization.
2. The research organization as a social system.
3. The importance of and process for goal setting in an organization.
4. The need for and methods of integration in an organization.
5. The concept of power in an organization.
6. Communication in the organization.
7. The process and models of decision making.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Exhibit 1

Organization theories

Exhibit 2

Taylor's Principles of Scientific Management

Exhibit 3

Weber's Bureaucratic Approach

Exhibit 4

Fayol's Principles of Management: Administrative Theory

Exhibit 5

Principles of the neoclassical approach

Exhibit 6

A modern approach to organization characteristics

Exhibit 7

A modern approach to organizations: the Systems Approach

Exhibit 8

A research organization as a social system

Exhibit 9

The importance of goal setting

Exhibit 10

The process of goal setting

Exhibit 11

The need for integration

Exhibit 12

Methods of integration

Exhibit 13

Organization-based power

Exhibit 14

Communication in the organization

Exhibit 15

The process of decision making

Exhibit 16

Models of decision making

REQUIRED READING
Reading note: Organizational theories
BACKGROUND READING
None.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND AIDS
Overhead projector and chalkboard
Session guide: Organizational theories

Exhibit 1: Organization theories
Exhibit 2: Taylor's principles of scientific management
Exhibit 3: Weber's bureaucratic approach
Exhibit 4: Fayol's principles of management: Administrative theory
Exhibit 5: Principles of the neoclassical approach
Exhibit 6: Characteristics of modern approaches to the organization
Exhibit 7: Modern approaches to organization: The systems approach
Exhibit 8: The research organization as a social system
Exhibit 9: The importance of goal settings
Exhibit 10: The process of goal setting (management by objectives)
Exhibit 11: The need for integration
Exhibit 12: Methods of integration
Exhibit 13: Organization-based power
Exhibit 14: Communication in the organization
Exhibit 15: The process of decision making
Exhibit 16: Models of decision making
There are several theories which explain the organization and its structure (EXHIBIT 1). Classical organization theory includes the scientific management approach, Weber's bureaucratic approach, and administrative theory.
The scientific management approach is based on the concept of planning of work to achieve efficiency, standardization, specialization and simplification. The approach to increased productivity is through mutual trust between management and workers. Taylor (1947) proposed four principles of scientific management:
· science, not rule-of-thumb;
· scientific selection of the worker;
· management and labour cooperation rather than conflict; and
· scientific training of workers.
Show EXHIBIT 2 and discuss these principles.
Weber's bureaucratic approach considers the organization as a part of broader society. The organization is based on the principles of:
· structure;
· specialization;
· predictability and stability;
· rationality; and
· democracy.
Show EXHIBIT 3, and discuss Weber's bureaucratic approach. Observe that this approach is considered rigid, impersonal, self-perpetuating and empire building.
Administrative theory was propounded by Henry Fayol and is based on several principles of management (EXHIBIT 4). In addition, management was considered as a set of planning, organizing, training, commanding and coordinating functions.
Neoclassical theory emphasizes individual or group behaviour and human relations in determining productivity. The main features of the neoclassical approach are individual, work group and participatory management.
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