Management Theory
Term Papers and Research Papers
Chris Argyris
Chris Argyris has presented distinguished and dynamically sophisticated theories
and strategies for individual and organizational development. He has in his
credit a noteworthy input in to the development of theory concerning
organizational learning. He led the conviction that people can be self-directed
and can be innovative at work if appropriately motivated. Chris Argyris, with
the help of his Immaturity-Maturity Theory, demonstrated as to how formal
structures, rigid channels of communication, and prescriptive job design often
causes organizational ineptness. [Chris Argyris, A Retrospective].
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According to Argyris, the reality that bureaucratic and pyramidal values still
control most organizations, has created many of the existing organizational
troubles. Chris describing the organizational change explored the behavior of
senior executives in organizations. Drawing from his conclusions about the
impact of organizational structure on individual behavior, Theories of Action
have been put forward showing how individual and organizational learning takes
place. Argyris and Schön suggest two responses to this mismatch, and these can
be seen in the concept of single and double-loop learning. They contain
assumptions about self, others and environment - these assumptions constitute a
microcosm of science in everyday life.
They said, “The words we use to convey what we, do or what we would like others
to think we do, can then be called espoused theory.” (Argyris & Schön 1974)
Further they say:
“When someone is asked how he would behave under certain circumstances, the
answer he usually gives is his espoused theory of action for that situation”. (Argyris
and Schön, 1974)
Peter Drucker
According to Peter ducker society in every developed country in last 50 years
has become a society of establishments. Every main social undertaking, whether
economic or health care, education or the protection of the environment, the
hunt of new knowledge or security, is today being delegated to large institutes,
designed for specific tasks and are managed by own managements. According to him
in the society of 1900 the family served in every single country as the
representative and organ for the Institutions, which were small, number of and
undersized. The rest of society was mixed up as usual. The citizen of today in
every developed country is typically an employee. He works for one of the
institutions. Peter ducker says, “There is no political nor social theory for
the society of institutions and its new pluralism. It is, indeed, incompatible
with the political and social theories, which still dominate our view of society
and our approach to political and social issues. “[Peter Drucker]
He also says that:
“The word "management" is a singularly difficult one. It denotes a social
position and rank but also a discipline and field of study.” [Peter Drucker]
Mary Parker Follett
Mary Parker Follett born in Quincy, Massachusetts on 3 September 1868,viewes the
society, and organizations as the one, where people at all levels are motivated
to work and contribute. They collect their own information, make their own
decisions, define their own roles and form their own lives. She is of the view
that experience should not be utilized to make theories and concepts, but to
inform the mind and liberate the spirit in a process, which she calls
‘evocation’. [John F. Horne III]. According to her, in this way, experience can
become actually innovative, a controlling force that generates progress and
growth. As she sums up:
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“We seek reality in experience. Let us reject the realm of the compensatory; it
is fair, but a prison. Experience may be hard but we claim its gifts because
they are real, even though our feet bleed on its stones. We seek progressive
advancement through the transformation of daily experience. No, daily experience
must be translated not into conceptual pictures but into spiritual conviction.
Experience can both guide and guard us. Foolish indeed are those who do not
bring oil to its burning”. (Follett, 1924)
She was supporter of the view that the ideas that go into creating strong &
healthy social communities could also be related to the development of
successful business organizations. She says: “I have left to the last what seems
to me the chief function, the real service, of business: to give an opportunity
for individual development through the better organization of human
relationships."[Graham, P]
Elton Mayo
Born in Australia in 1880 Elton Mayo applied the theories of sociology that he
learned to other Management studies that were being done at the time. He found
that it was the social problems because of which things were going well in
industries. He also pointed out the political problems that take place from an
industrial civilization. Some of these problems could be dishonest officials and
the rules that industry has to obey with but never do. [Elton Mayo]. Mayo had
discovered that workers act according to feeling and emotion. Mayo was able to
prove that employees react better when they had good relationships with the
management that they worked with. If management would treat the employees with
respect and give them the attention at the work place that they needed, then the
workers would be more willing to work harder for the employer. Elton Mayo has
analyzed the theories of management and also found how to motivate employees to
be more productive it is part of the Human Relations with in the organizations.
[Willie Lucas] Mayo had his own viewpoints upon the principles of human
motivation that transformed the theory and application of management. He
concluded that:
“Work is a group activity”
He also was of the view that:
“The need for recognition, security and sense of belonging is more important in
determining workers' morale and productivity than the physical conditions under
which he works.
Informal groups within the work plant exercise strong social controls over the
work habits and attitudes of the individual worker.”[George Elton Mayo]
Kurt Lewin
Kurt Lewin made significant contributions towards psychology as a staff member
of Berlin University. He performed a methodical analysis of fundamental to
social psychology aspect of personality and tested human behavior in a
restricted situation. Lewin’s Field Theory has showed the way to further develop
human behavior. He influenced complex situational variables in normal settings.
His move toward this direction has steered experiments in the field of social
cognition, social motivation and group progression. The most significant
contribution in human management was that he helped to develop action research.
Action research uses experiential social research, social action and controlled
assessment.
His famous quotes are: -
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‘Our behavior is purposeful; we live in a psychological reality or life space
that includes not only those parts of our physical and social environment to us
but also imagined states that do not currently exist.’
“American cultural ideal of the self-made man, of everyone standing on his own
feet, is as tragic a picture as the initiative – destroying dependence on a
benevolent despot. We all need each other. This type of interdependence is the
greatest challenge to the maturity of individual and group functioning” [Kert
Lewin]
References
Chris Argyris? A Retrospective, http://www.indiainfoline.com/
Argyris, C. and Schön, D. (1974) Theory in practice: Increasing professional
effectiveness, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Drucker, Peter, Management: Tasks, Responsibilities Practices, http://www.peter-drucker.com/books/0887306152.html
Follett, Mary Parker (1924) Creative Experience, New York: Longmans Green.
Horne, John F., III, Mary Parker Follett: Visionary Genius Finds Her Own Time
http://www.auntl.org/mary.htm
Graham, P. (ed), Mary Parker Follett: Prophet of Management, Boston, MA, Harvard
Business Schook Press, 1995, p. 276
Mayo, Elton, http://www.accel-team.com/human_relations/hrels_01_mayo.html
Lucas, Willie http://www.stfrancis.edu/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/bbios/biograph/mayo.htm
Mayo, George Elton, (1880-1949) http://www.lmu.ac.uk/lis/imgtserv/wcswebsite/index.htm
Lewin, Kert, http://www.top-psychology.com/9059-Kurt%20Lewin/ataglance.htm
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