Approaches to Organisation and Management
2
APPROACHES TO ORGANISATION AND
MANAGEMENT
Organisational behaviour is a discursive subject and much has been written about it. The study of organisations and management has therefore to proceed on a broad front. It is the comparative study of the different approaches that will yield benefits to the manager. The study of organisations, their structure and management is important for the manager. Identification of major trends in management and organisational behaviour, and the work of leading writers, provide a perspective on concepts and ideas discussed in more detail in other chapters.
Learning outcomes
After completing this chapter you should be able to:
■ identify major trends in the development of organisational behaviour and management thinking;
■ contrast main features of different approaches to organisation and management; ■ evaluate the relevance of these different approaches to the present-day management of organisations;
■ explain the relationships between management theory and practice;
■ assess the value of the study of different approaches to organisation and management; ■ recognise the relationship between the development of theory, behaviour in organisations and management practice;
■ establish a basis for consideration of aspects of organisational behaviour discussed in subsequent chapters.
Critical reflection
‘It is often claimed that what leading writers say is an important part of the study of management and organisational behaviour. Others say that all these different ideas are little more than short-term fads and have little practical value.’ What do you think? What role does management theory have in helping us solve problems we face in our organisational lives today?
PART 1 THE ORGANISATIONAL SETTING
THE THEORY OF MANAGEMENT
A central part of the study of organisation and management is the development of manage- ment thinking and what might be termed management theory.
APPROACHES TO ORGANISATION AND
MANAGEMENT
Organisational behaviour is a discursive subject and much has been written about it. The study of organisations and management has therefore to proceed on a broad front. It is the comparative study of the different approaches that will yield benefits to the manager. The study of organisations, their structure and management is important for the manager. Identification of major trends in management and organisational behaviour, and the work of leading writers, provide a perspective on concepts and ideas discussed in more detail in other chapters.
Learning outcomes
After completing this chapter you should be able to:
■ identify major trends in the development of organisational behaviour and management thinking;
■ contrast main features of different approaches to organisation and management; ■ evaluate the relevance of these different approaches to the present-day management of organisations;
■ explain the relationships between management theory and practice;
■ assess the value of the study of different approaches to organisation and management; ■ recognise the relationship between the development of theory, behaviour in organisations and management practice;
■ establish a basis for consideration of aspects of organisational behaviour discussed in subsequent chapters.
Critical reflection
‘It is often claimed that what leading writers say is an important part of the study of management and organisational behaviour. Others say that all these different ideas are little more than short-term fads and have little practical value.’ What do you think? What role does management theory have in helping us solve problems we face in our organisational lives today?
PART 1 THE ORGANISATIONAL SETTING
THE THEORY OF MANAGEMENT
A central part of the study of organisation and management is the development of manage- ment thinking and what might be termed management theory.