The Machine Metaphor and Organizations Today The machine metaphor points out the ways that organizations are specialized‚ standardized‚ and predictable. When I try to apply this metaphor to real life‚ the first thing that comes to mind is the assembly line inside a factory. To create a product each member has their role on the assembly line and there isn’t much deviation from the set process otherwise the product may be unpredictable. In an assembly line the work is done simultaneously to achieve
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executives are moving forward in a beneficial direction. Burger Barn executives are moving in a direction that will increase efficiency and potentially increase both productivity and profit. Although their organizational approach can be seen as a “Machine Metaphor” (Miller‚ 2011)‚ in an Ice cream shop‚ such classical approach can be beneficial. The idea of having multiple stations to reduce the time the customer is waiting to finalize their purchase reaps good benefits. Therefore their positive optimism
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12/9/2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction. Historical background and Max Veber’s theory………………………….….2 II. Bureaucracy in business. Advantages…………………………………………………..….4 III. Disadvantage of bureaucracy…………………………………………………………..…..5 IV. Types of bureaucracy…………………………………………………………………….…8 V. Examples of bureaucratic organizations………………………………………………..….10 VI. Perspectives of bureaucratic system: “Bureaucracy Must Die”……………………….......11 VII. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….13 VIII. References…………………………………………………………………………………
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Applying the Machine Metaphor Metaphors are often used in order to analyse organisations and theories of management by helping us to see and understand in a distinctive yet partial way (Morgan‚ 2006). The use of metaphors allows us to understand something by comparing it to an experience to which we are familiar. Akin & Palmer (2000 p 69) further explain the effectiveness of metaphors saying they “are integral to our language. It is through metaphors that we communicate.” When using metaphors Morgan
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one of the very few disciplines in social science that takes keen interest in the writings of a small group of supposed founding fathers. It has been controversially agreed that the founding fathers of sociology are Karl Marx‚ Emile Durkheim and Max Weber who created sociology in response to dramatic changes in European society: the industrial revolution‚ class conflict‚ secularization‚ alienation and the modern state. (Pg 1511) Not only are their texts read and reread through time but also the same
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Bureaucracy theory of Weber Weber ’s theory of bureaucracy (1958) is one of the most popular themes of the studying of organizations. He identified the legitimate of power with authority. ’Power ’ means the ability to ask people to accept the orders; ’Legitimation ’ means people regard this power as legitimate so as to obey the orders. Weber identified this authority as three types: Charismatic authority‚ where the rule can be accepted because the leader has some outstanding personal quality
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Theories as Metaphors Root metaphor According to Stephen Pepper(1942)‚ provides a model for understanding phenomena‚ and it is often unconscious. He had six world views 1. Animism – characteristics of a human or a spirit 2. Mysticism – knowledge is acquired through revelation of experience 3. Formism – forms exist in nature 4. Mechanism – forces are transmitted to produce effects 5. Organicism – stages of development 6. Contextualism – situations changes as events unfold
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etc. What goes on today‚ most likely went on one hundred years ago‚ the only difference is time. Max Weber has proven to have strong theories which identify that the world is distributed among certain classes and the situations that go on within them. The Class Positioning of the Bijelic family will be looked at in comparison to Weber ’s theories. This essay will describe Weber ’s theories along with comparing and contrasting them to Karl Marx ’s and Pierre Bourdieu ’s ideas. The Bijelic family
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A-Level Sociology Teaching Notes Social Inequality: Theories: Weber Introduction In most sociology textbooks that discuss the work of Marx and Weber you will‚ eventually‚ come across the phrase that Weber’s work on social stratification represents a‚ "Dialogue with the ghost of Marx". Since this is a textbook of sorts‚ there seems little reason to break with tradition and not give the cliché yet another airing... So‚ while the above quotation may be a rather hackneyed phrase
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The machine metaphor is defined as an organization that operates in a mechanistic-like manner (Morgan 12). These organizations are very centralized and structured. The tasks performed are very monotonous and predictable‚ and workers become very separated from their work‚ similar to how a robot would operate. The employees are viewed by the organization as inanimate and replaceable. In a machine‚ each unit is independent and necessary to create a smooth operation of the whole machine
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