"Organizational theory refers to a series of interrelated concepts that involve the sociological study of the structures and operations of formal social organizations."
This subfield focuses on the study of the structure, functioning, and behavior of organizations as complex systems.
Organizational Structure: How an organization is arranged, including division of labor, hierarchy, and communication channels.
Organizational Culture: The shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that shape how an organization operates.
Organizational Behavior: The study of how individuals and groups behave within an organization, including motivation, attitudes, performance, and communication.
Organizational Change: How organizations adapt to changing environments, including strategies for managing change, resistance to change, and the impact of technology.
Leadership: The process of influencing others to achieve organizational goals, including different leadership styles, traits, and skills.
Management: The process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
Strategic Management: The process of formulating and implementing strategies to achieve organizational objectives, including environmental analysis, competitive advantage, and resource allocation.
Human Resource Management: The practices and systems for managing people in organizations, including recruitment, selection, training, performance appraisal, and compensation.
Organizational Communication: The process of exchanging information and ideas within and between organizations, including internal and external communication, and communication technology.
Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility: The principles and values that govern organizational behavior, including ethical decision-making, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability.
Contingency Theory: This theory suggests that there is no one best way to structure an organization. Instead, the structure and management style of an organization should be adapted to fit the unique circumstances and contexts in which it operates.
Resource Dependence Theory: This theory argues that organizations are constantly in competition for resources, including financial, physical, and human resources. The theory examines how organizations manage and allocate these resources to maintain their survival.
Institutional Theory: This theory suggests that organizations must conform to social norms and values in order to be accepted and survive. The theory examines how organizations shape, and are shaped by, societal norms and expectations.
Systems Theory: This theory views organizations as complex systems made up of interdependent parts. It examines how changes in one part of the system can impact other parts of the organization, and how the system as a whole can be managed.
Agency Theory: This theory examines the relationship between principals (such as the owners or shareholders of an organization) and agents (such as managers or employees). The theory focuses on how these two groups can align their interests to achieve shared goals.
Transaction Cost Theory: This theory examines the costs associated with different types of transactions between individuals and organizations, such as hiring employees or outsourcing services. The theory suggests that organizations should choose transaction methods that minimize costs and maximize efficiency.
Cultural Theory: This theory examines how organizational culture - the shared beliefs, values, and norms of an organization - impacts organizational behavior, performance, and outcomes. It suggests that culture can be intentionally shaped and managed to achieve desired outcomes.
"Organizational theory also seeks to explain how interrelated units of organization either connect or do not connect with each other."
"Organizational theory also concerns understanding how groups of individuals behave, which may differ from the behavior of an individual."
"The behavior organizational theory often focuses on is goal-directed."
"Organizational theory covers both intra-organizational and inter-organizational fields of study."
"Theories of organizations initially took a rational perspective."
"In a rational organization system, there are two significant parts: Specificity of Goals and Formalization."
"The division of labor is the specialization of individual labor roles, associated with increasing output and trade."
"Max Weber's conception of bureaucracy is characterized by the presence of impersonal positions that are earned and not inherited, rule-governed decision-making, professionalism, chain of command, defined responsibility, and bounded authority."
"Contingency theory holds that an organization must try to maximize performance by minimizing the effects of various environmental and internal constraints."
"Dwight Waldo in 1978 wrote that '[o]rganization theory is characterized by vogues, heterogeneity, claims and counterclaims.'"
"Organization theory cannot be described as an orderly progression of ideas or a unified body of knowledge."
"Suggestions to view organizations as a series of logical relationships between its participants have found its way into the theoretical relationships between diverging organizational theories as well."
"as explains the interdisciplinary nature of the field."
"The issues to which it should address itself (such as supervisory style and organizational culture)."
"the concepts and variables that should enter into such a theory."
"Modernization theorist Frank Dobbin wrote that 'modern institutions are transparently purposive.'"
"the ability to navigate this requisite variety may depend upon the development of a range of response mechanisms."
"The interdisciplinary nature of the field."