"Organizational theory refers to a series of interrelated concepts that involve the sociological study of the structures and operations of formal social organizations."
The study of how organizations function and how they can be designed and improved.
History of Public Administration: Study of the evolution and development of public administration, including theoretical and practical implications.
Public Service Motivation: Understanding the motivations and behaviors of public servants and how they can be influenced and improved.
Organizational Structure: Investigation of the design and implementation of a formal structure, hierarchy, policies, and procedures within public organizations.
Bureaucracy Theory: Analysis of the applicability of bureaucracy as a model of organizational design and its role in public administration.
Systems Theory: Understanding the complex interactions between individuals, organizations, and external environments, including the interdependence of subsystems within public organizations.
Organizational Behavior: The study of individuals’ behavior in the workplace, and how it affects organizational outcomes, such as productivity and job satisfaction.
Decision-making Processes: Examining the role of leaders, managers, and employees in making decisions within public organizations, and the importance of transparent and fair decision-making processes.
Leadership: Investigation of leadership theories, styles, and practices, and their implications for public administration.
Strategic Management: The process of formulating, implementing, and monitoring organizational goals and objectives, with an understanding of how external factors affect the process.
Public Policy: Analyzing the development, implementation, and evaluation of public policy, including the role of public organizations in the policy-making process.
Governance: Understanding the different forms of governance, the relationship between the government and the citizens, and the role and responsibilities of public organizations.
Performance Management: Investigation of the design, implementation, and evaluation of performance management systems in public organizations, including the use of metrics and benchmarking.
Public Budgeting and Finance: Understanding the principles and methods of public budgeting and finance, including the role of public organizations in managing public resources.
Human Resource Management: Study of the recruitment, selection, training, development, and retention of employees in public organizations.
Ethics and Accountability: Investigation of ethical issues and accountability in public organizations, including the role of public servants in maintaining ethical standards and transparency in decision-making.
Classical Organization Theory: This theory is based on principles of hierarchy, efficiency, and formalization. It focuses on establishing clear lines of authority and responsibility within an organization, and providing formalized rules and procedures to govern employee behavior and actions.
Behavioral Organization Theory: This theory considers employee behavior as a primary factor in organizational success. It emphasizes the role of social interactions and relationships, and seeks to empower employees by increasing their sense of ownership and involvement in decision-making processes.
Systems Organization Theory: This theory views organizations as complex systems with multiple interrelated components, including people, processes, and technology. It seeks to optimize organizational functioning by identifying and addressing systemic issues that can impede innovation, growth, and performance.
Contingency Organization Theory: This theory recognizes that different organizations may require different approaches to management depending on their unique circumstances, including size, culture, and goals. It emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability in organizational design, and seeks to identify the most effective ways to respond to evolving challenges and opportunities.
Institutional Organization Theory: This theory focuses on how organizations interact with their broader social and cultural contexts, including their relationships with other organizations and institutions. It seeks to understand how organizations shape and are shaped by larger social structures and processes, and how they can use this knowledge to cultivate more effective strategies for growth and change.
Resource Dependence Organization Theory: This theory emphasizes the importance of external resources and relationships in organizational success. It seeks to understand how organizations can best leverage their external connections to secure access to critical resources, including financial, human, and social capital.
Political Economy Organization Theory: This theory views organizations as deeply embedded within larger political and economic systems, and seeks to analyze how these systems exert influence on organizational behavior and decision-making. It emphasizes the importance of understanding power dynamics within and between organizations, and identifies ways to leverage this knowledge to promote positive change and social justice.
Critical Organization Theory: This theory takes a critical perspective on organizational behavior and practices, emphasizing the importance of challenging dominant power structures and promoting social and environmental justice. It seeks to identify and address systemic inequalities and injustices within organizations, and to promote more equitable and sustainable approaches to management and leadership.
"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."