MSCI311 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Msci, Group Decision-Making, Organizational Structure
29 Apr 2019
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Document Summary
Msci 311 module 1 different approaches to organizations. An organization is a set of formal and informal constraints that result in patterns of behaviour. Formal & informal constraint patterns of behaviour. Unit of analysis: the fundamental element of interest. A scientific (mathematical) approach to management: time and motion studies. Most impactful outcome: the invention of the assembly line. Problems: limited applicability, physical vs. cognitive tasks. Individual vs. group tasks: undesirable consequences of optimization, repetitive work, loss of autonomy, bureaucracy. Idea: operate a business rationally and with efficiency: views the organization as rational, rules are not always appropriate, rules are hard to change, making decisions on limited information, human relations. Existence of informal organization (social organization) with its own norms, values and expectations. Problems with human relations approach: group decision making (to make everyone happy) is not always feasible, cultural change is difficult, systems approach. System: a complex unity of things that are interconnected and interdependent.
