Brendan Ryan
University of the People
Abstract
This paper briefly analyses four important theoretical schools of thought in Organisational Theory. Taylors Scientific Management Theory, Fayols Administrative Theory, Webers Bureaucracy and Organisational Structure Theory and Simons Administrative Behaviour Theory. It then goes on to provide a closer look at Fayols Administrative Theory, and the way its concepts have influenced the development of organisation theories today.
Analysis of Four Organisational Theoretical Contributions Prior to the advent of industrialisation and more importantly modern mass production most businesses produced limited amounts of goods, using …show more content…
He was more concerned with the administrative processes of the organisation in its entirety. Ideas such as the hierarchy of command/authority, span of control and division of labour were ideas put forward by Fayol which found much favour in many organisations of the 1900’s. Later theories were to criticise the simplistic nature in which Fayol viewed administrative conditions (Laegaard & Bindsley, 2006, …show more content…
The bureaucracy model also considered the social and historical perspectives of an organisation and was based on an unwavering trust in management and its ability (Laegaard & Bindsley, 2006, p.16). Middle managers, or bureaucrats, were tasked with ensuring that top managements wishes were implemented by the effective management of those below. Much like Fayols theory, this resulted in a certain rigidity within organisations that whilst highly ordered, lacked