Summaries of Images of Organizations
Social Science Portfolio
Images of Organizations
By
Robert Quartey
Date: 20th Dec 2012
TABLE OF CONTENT SS2 ACTIVITY 1 3 SS2 ACTIVITY 2 6 SS2 ACTIVITY 3 9 SS2 ACTIVITY 4 12 SS2 ACTIVITY 5 15 SS2 ACTIVITY 6 19
SS2 ACTIVITY 1
“What is an organization”
In my opinion, an organization is basically members of a working group that are structured and allocated various tasks with the aim of achieving a common goal.
“A visit to Mcdonald’s”
Q.1 In what ways does a Mcdonald’s retail outlet resemble a machine?
Mcdonalds resembles a machine in the following ways: * A machine usually consists of different parts achieving a common goal. For instance, a car engine would consist of different parts such the alternator, cylinders, injection system, spark plugs e.t.c , working together to achieve movement of the whole vehicle from one place to another. This scenario is similar in the case of Mcdonalds. The employees are divided into different stations to perform different tasks with the aim of achieving a common goal such of satisfying their customers’ needs.
* The staff of Mcdonald’s have standard procedures that have been set and are followed precisely. These procedures covers every little aspect of operating the business and thus gives no room for errors or creativity. There is less thinking or no thinking involved in the operation of the place. All methods,decisions on preparing the food has been written and must be implemented. The staff are there to just follow these procedures like a computer does as it’s programming tell it to.
* Just like machines, Mcdonalds’s produces standard products. Two “Big Macs” from Mcdonalds would look and taste the same unlike if they were made in a normal restaurant were cooks have freedom in the method of cooking. There is little or no differentiation in the products offered on their menus.
Q.2 Why do you think the firm has been so successful? Mcdonald’s has been successful due to the
Images of Organizations
By
Robert Quartey
Date: 20th Dec 2012
TABLE OF CONTENT SS2 ACTIVITY 1 3 SS2 ACTIVITY 2 6 SS2 ACTIVITY 3 9 SS2 ACTIVITY 4 12 SS2 ACTIVITY 5 15 SS2 ACTIVITY 6 19
SS2 ACTIVITY 1
“What is an organization”
In my opinion, an organization is basically members of a working group that are structured and allocated various tasks with the aim of achieving a common goal.
“A visit to Mcdonald’s”
Q.1 In what ways does a Mcdonald’s retail outlet resemble a machine?
Mcdonalds resembles a machine in the following ways: * A machine usually consists of different parts achieving a common goal. For instance, a car engine would consist of different parts such the alternator, cylinders, injection system, spark plugs e.t.c , working together to achieve movement of the whole vehicle from one place to another. This scenario is similar in the case of Mcdonalds. The employees are divided into different stations to perform different tasks with the aim of achieving a common goal such of satisfying their customers’ needs.
* The staff of Mcdonald’s have standard procedures that have been set and are followed precisely. These procedures covers every little aspect of operating the business and thus gives no room for errors or creativity. There is less thinking or no thinking involved in the operation of the place. All methods,decisions on preparing the food has been written and must be implemented. The staff are there to just follow these procedures like a computer does as it’s programming tell it to.
* Just like machines, Mcdonalds’s produces standard products. Two “Big Macs” from Mcdonalds would look and taste the same unlike if they were made in a normal restaurant were cooks have freedom in the method of cooking. There is little or no differentiation in the products offered on their menus.
Q.2 Why do you think the firm has been so successful? Mcdonald’s has been successful due to the
References: * Morgan,G. (1998).Interest, Conflict and Power: Organizations as Political Systems. In: Images of Organization. California: Sage Publications, Inc, Executive Edition p147 – 179 * Website: http://dictionary.reference.com [Accessed 19 December 2011]. Morgan,G. (1998). Exploring Plato’s cave; Organizations as Psychic Prisons. In: Images of Organization. California: Sage Publications, Inc, Executive Edition p181 – 206.