A focus on the earliest theories of organizations, including scientific management and bureaucratic theory.
Scientific Management: A way of analyzing and organizing work processes to maximize efficiency and productivity.
Administrative Management: A management approach that focuses on establishing an organized and efficient structure for managing organizations.
Bureaucratic Management: A management style based on strict hierarchical structures and clear lines of authority.
Behavioral Management: A management approach that emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing human behavior in the workplace.
Hawthorne Studies: A series of experiments conducted at Western Electric’s Hawthorne plant in the 1920s and 30s that changed traditional managerial thinking by highlighting the importance of social and psychological factors on productivity.
Human Relations Movement: A management philosophy that values the role of social and psychological factors in worker satisfaction and productivity.
Theory X and Theory Y: Two contrasting assumptions about human nature and behavior in organizations.
Contingency Theory: A management philosophy that suggests there is no one “best way” to manage an organization, and instead the appropriate management approach will depend on the specific circumstances.
Structuralism: A management philosophy that emphasizes the importance of the formal organizational structure in determining organizational behavior and outcomes.
Systems Theory: A management approach that sees organizations as complex systems made up of interconnected parts.
Organizational Culture: The shared beliefs, values, and practices that shape the behavior and attitudes of people within an organization.
Power and Politics: The ways in which power is distributed and wielded within organizations, including issues of authority, influence, and decision-making.
Decision-Making: The process of making choices and taking action, including the various models and approaches to decision-making in organizations.
Strategic Management: A management approach focused on long-term planning in order to achieve organizational goals.
Organizational Change: The process of introducing and implementing new ideas, processes, or structures within an organization.
Leadership: The theories and practices of leading and managing people within an organization.
Organizational Design: The process of creating or modifying the structure and function of an organization in response to external or internal factors.
Organizational Theory: The study of organizations and their behavior, including the various perspectives and approaches to understanding and analyzing them.
Scientific Management: This theory was developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, and it focuses on optimizing productivity in the workplace by analyzing and improving work processes.
Administrative Theory: This theory was developed by Henri Fayol, and it focuses on the principles of management, including planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling.
Bureaucratic Theory: This theory was developed by Max Weber, and it focuses on the structure of organizations, including rules and procedures, and the roles of managers and employees.
Human Relations Theory: This theory was developed by Elton Mayo, and it focuses on the relationship between workers and management, including motivation, group dynamics, and communication.
Systems Theory: This theory views organizations as complex systems with distinct inputs, outputs, and feedback loops, with a focus on interdependence and relationships between different parts of the organization.
Contingency Theory: This theory posits that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to organizational management and suggests that organizations must adapt to changing environments and circumstances.
Transactional Theory: This theory focuses on the transaction between leaders and followers, emphasizing rewards and punishments as motivators.
Transformational Theory: This theory focuses on the transformation of individuals, groups, and organizations through visionary leadership and motivation.
Neo-Classical Theory: This theory builds on classical theories but incorporates new concepts such as humanistic and behavioral approaches to understanding organizations.
Agency Theory: This theory focuses on the relationship between principals and agents in organizations, including issues of delegation, control, and motivation.