The limitation of metaphors in organisation theory applying

Ø None of these eight images is by itself an adequate representation

Ø In creating ways of seeing, they create ways of not seeing

Ø Together they highlight the complexity of organisations and the processes which sustain them.

Ø This complexity is part of the context of management in organisations and informs management practice.

Questions and answers – examples

1. What are the examples of contribution for organisation theory of State and military heads ?

The kings and commandors faced the similar problems of ruling huge populations and their provision with necessary resources for life and for battle.

These kinds of problem were solved by different ways for armies, e.g., Napoleon organised so fast advancement by territory to avoid big reserves and to assure the feeding by seized local resources. Before Napoleon, the war led to the enormous train with food, clothe and weapon.

Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, gave the rational organisation with division of labour and hierarchical rules in troops, with idea of interchangeable parts of weapon, with standardising the military units and their dress. At last, Frederick the Great introduced the procedure of sampling evaluations, in the form of annual reviews of several regiments.

2. What kind of organisation can be compared with a brain?

The brain as a metaphor for organisation has some specific features, as mutual replacing capacity of employees (as cells in the brain), or the significance of the information as the main resource for the functioning.

So, the best example of such companies are the software, movies producers, consulting or advertising agencies, R&D bureau (research and development as outsourcing for a sector or a corporation).

In that organisations usually several employees (high qualified professionals) can be charged with some specific functions. But, as for the brain, they need much energy (in case of organisation – financial resources or other compensation for the lagour of high level specialists).

In other words, usually, there are small companies with exclusive competences of employees and very narrow specialised niche on the market.

3. Is the virtual enterprise an example of organisational metaphor as flow ?

Really, in the up to date (post-modern) world, any organisation can be represented as a flow.

Indeed, the individualisation of producing chain permits to clients to come “nside” the system of production and to intervene almost in any stage of manufacturing a good.

The marketing is coming out of the organisation to assure the conformity of a product to the needs of consumer, the finance attracts the investments and with derivative securities the capital is able to increase.

The social responsible practices introduces the society interests to the strategy of pure business.

At last, the human resource today is not limited – neither the enterprise can require the exclusive contract on the talent person, nor the employee’ working hours are restricted by office day. As employees, we usually have some other options to earn, but in the same time, in the crucial moment we involve our family’ resources or help of our friends to the organisation’s goals achievement.

III. Theories of organisation’ management

Unlike what may be found in many manuals, thinking about the organisation of labour did not start with TAYLOR.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 840