Contingency Theory

Classical organization theory evolved during the first half of this century. It represents the merger of scientific management, bureaucratic theory, and administrative theory.

Classical organizational theory supports two views. Scientific management which focuses on managing work and employees and administrative management which addresses issues which

8. What are the pros and cons of each key organizational structure? Which do you think would be the best fit for you? Explain your answer.

This theory can be described as a way in which organizational members collectively interpret the organizational world around them in order to define the importance of the organizational happenings.

It is depicted that modern organizations tend to incorporate the aspects of the open systems with those of the natural and rational perspectives. Examples include the institutional, transaction cost, and the contingency and the contingency theories. Organizations adopt the open system that accommodates the other two theoretical perspectives for it to exist (Davis & Scott, 2006). These organizations tend to have structures that are based on the processes, the products, and the function.

Effective contingencies that function as punishers have some basic principles that distinguish them from other ineffective contingencies. Punishment is a response or a contingency that suppresses the future occurrence of a similar response. It is a consequence that causes pain or discomfort and teaches an individual not to repeat what caused the punishment. In the third section of Punishment on trial, Ennio Cipani summarizes six basic principles of effective punishment. These principles are:

Choose one real world organisation from one of the three sectors discussed in task one. Discuss this organisation in terms of the following:

Theory X, that adopts the authoritarian view that people normally abhor working and must be forced to work with punishment for failing to meet the objective. These people actually prefer to be directed and lack ambition.

Theory X and Theory Y, developed by Douglas McGregor, grew out of opposition towards classical management methods. Classical management theorists, such as Fredrick Taylor, focused on scientific training and efficiency and did not account for personal and behavioral issues, such as management styles or job satisfaction. McGregor saw these deficiencies in the classical school of management which lead him to develop a theory of management that would factor the importance of the individual worker. If a manager could tap into the feelings and attitudes of their workers, then the manager would be able increase their employee’s motivation which would then increase production. McGregor’s theory viewed the employee as a person and not as a machine

Fiedler’ model is considered the first highly visible theory to present the contingency approach. It stated that effective groups depend on a proper match between a leader’s style of interacting with subordinates and the degree to which the situation gives control and influence to the leader (Fiedler, 1967). Fiedler argued that the leadership style could be indentified by

Compare and contrast the management theories of Frederick Taylor, Henri Fayol, Elton Mayo and Douglas McGregor. In what sense(s) are these theories similar and/or compatible? In what sense(s) are these theories dissimilar and/or incompatible? How would a contingency theorist reconcile the points of dissimilarity and/or incompatibility between these approaches?

The Contingency Theory applied to factors unique to each situation to determine whether specific leader characteristics and behaviors will be effective. Researched findings credit Fiedler 's contingency theory as the first to specify how situational factors interact with leader traits and behavior to influence leadership effectiveness. This theory suggests high interest in the situation determines the effectiveness of task- and person-oriented leader behavior.

Compsis can be described as a company with little complexity. This does not mean that they do not have variance within the company, but because of their size they operate using a limited horizontal form of complexity. Decisions are made among the five members and the means ends outcomes are predictable for the company.

The history of management includes multiple theories and understanding them can help individuals identify the ideas their organization is built upon. Classical organizational theory encompasses several major approaches to management that continue to be influential even today. The early to mid-twentieth century included the introduction of many concepts of management theory such as scientific management, bureaucratic and administrative theory. Most of these early approaches revolved around control of employees and processes in order to achieve more

Organizing: An organization can only function effectively if it is well planned. This implies that there must be