Organizational Theory - an Introduction
Organizational Theory – an introduction
Carl Borge-Andersen, Norwegian School of Management, Oslo
Introduction
This is article, section, 1 presents an overview of Organizational theory.
Definition of an Organization
” An organization is a social system that is consciously constructed to achieve specific goals”.[1] The term social system reflects the notion that there are groups of individuals working together. Management organizes the group(s) which, will cooperate in reaching the organization’s determined and set goals. Thus an organization can be defined as: ”a group of people, with individual goals, who work together to achieve and materialize the organization’s set, common goals within the frame of their own goals and that of the environment[2]”
What Defines an Organization?
Several issues define an organization. Among these are:
1. Goals - describe what management in cooperation with the employees are to achieve. It is important that the goals are unified in terms of content and goals above, below and to the side. In addition, the goals must be harmonized with all the “Me Ltd’s” in the organization in order for the management and the organization to succeed “.
2. People – are the members of the organization. It is the management’s responsibility to have the individual egos to work together to achieve the organizational goals.
3. People Relationships – the glue of organizations. The relationships are coloured by the organizational culture within the community that the organization represents. The community, on the other hand, is coloured by the values, opinions, disagreements, dependencies and conflicts of the organization. The relationships will also be tainted by power struggles of varying degrees of strength and intensity.
4. Organizational Structure [3]– defines how the organization is structured – what organizational units are necessary, what functions are incorporated in each unit, what the functions consist of in terms of
Carl Borge-Andersen, Norwegian School of Management, Oslo
Introduction
This is article, section, 1 presents an overview of Organizational theory.
Definition of an Organization
” An organization is a social system that is consciously constructed to achieve specific goals”.[1] The term social system reflects the notion that there are groups of individuals working together. Management organizes the group(s) which, will cooperate in reaching the organization’s determined and set goals. Thus an organization can be defined as: ”a group of people, with individual goals, who work together to achieve and materialize the organization’s set, common goals within the frame of their own goals and that of the environment[2]”
What Defines an Organization?
Several issues define an organization. Among these are:
1. Goals - describe what management in cooperation with the employees are to achieve. It is important that the goals are unified in terms of content and goals above, below and to the side. In addition, the goals must be harmonized with all the “Me Ltd’s” in the organization in order for the management and the organization to succeed “.
2. People – are the members of the organization. It is the management’s responsibility to have the individual egos to work together to achieve the organizational goals.
3. People Relationships – the glue of organizations. The relationships are coloured by the organizational culture within the community that the organization represents. The community, on the other hand, is coloured by the values, opinions, disagreements, dependencies and conflicts of the organization. The relationships will also be tainted by power struggles of varying degrees of strength and intensity.
4. Organizational Structure [3]– defines how the organization is structured – what organizational units are necessary, what functions are incorporated in each unit, what the functions consist of in terms of