Traditional and Modern Approach to Management Studies - Dissertation Example

Introduction There are many forms of approaches that may be used for the evaluation and analysis for an organization to understand and analyze any given situation. These approaches were designed according to the nature and structure of an organization. For instance, an organizational structure that deals with manufacturing would have their own way on how to evaluate things in different types of situations depending on the gravity and effect it might cause their operations compared to an organization that deals with providing services to their respective field. Another difference they would have is how they consider factors and what may be considered valid factors in relevance to the industry’s market operation and competition. Other factors that need to be considered in the analysis of an organization are human relations and the ability of the managers to solve problems in small and wide scale situations (Casey p.102). These three aspects are the main contributors to an organization’s bureaucracy. These are structures of policies and procedures to guide and manage an organization’s activity in relation to their daily operations. It is a hierarchy of people who has designated positions and corresponding job or work responsibilities, operation rules and procedures also comes with to all level of authority in the hierarchy (Garston p.5). Because of the changing nature of the society, there are also developments in management studies to better suit the nature of management and business structures. The trends and developments in theories can be adapted to understanding organizations and management since it allows a critical analysis of the changing needs and structure of the management and business. Traditional and Modern Approach to Management Studies Previous management theories focus on the rational explanation of the situations and circumstances enveloping management studies. It is focused on understanding and explaining perspectives in a sociological manner, wherein it seeks to understand and explain relationships between social institutions and social historical action (Casey p.9). This indicates that understanding human behavior is also important in understanding organization. Notable management theories that look into social aspects of studying organizations are Weber’s and Durkheim’s. These theories are neo-rational and strategic in terms of analyzing organizations (Casey 9). Previous management theories look into the functions of organizations and management. Aside from a Weberian and Durkheim perspective in explaining management and organizations, another approach is the Marxist perspective wherein it looks into the institutionalization of interests and processes relating to a power structure and bureaucracy (Casey p.14). Modern theoretical approach in studying management and organizations focus on the importance of structured and functional relationships within the organization and it defines how these structures work in determining the balance or crisis within the organization. This indicates that the changing relationships and power structures within the organization have a bearing in the development and improvement, or even downfall, of an organization. Traditional organizational theories look into management as a decision-making actor that defines change and innovation (Casey p.15). This emphasizes the functional roles of the management in the organization. A neo-rationalist approach in management is focused on strategy. This approach defines and analyzes the instabilities of an organization and how a rational and organized management body is needed to stabilize it (Casey p.16). Critical Theory on Management Studies The development of critical theory allowed more analysis towards the challenges of the organizational structure. While modern theories of management look into the functions and needed structure of an organization, critical theories of management focus upon the needs of the organization to create solutions for the changing environment of the management system that answers to the expansion and development in the capitalist economy. It questions and challenges contemporary practices and theories of management to be able to adapt to the expansion of the capitalist economy. In difference to the functionalist approach, the critical theory is grounded on an oppositional critical activity, which aims to transform the organization (Casey p.58). Critical theory analyzes phenomenon and situations in a contextual manner. It looks into the intricacies of the situation and determines solutions in respect to the situation rather than going into a generalized approach in defining the downfall of the structures and processes. Instead of looking into the damage it caused in the economic, functional and power structures of the organization, it seeks answers and solutions based on the given situation rather go into the political, economic and functional effects of the said problems and issues. It analyzes the situations in a deeper understanding of the historical background of the said situation and defines possible solutions that are based on the given context. This includes looking into the concept of reason and human nature (Hancock and Taylor p.17). Postmodern Theory in Management Studies Modernization and the expansion of the capitalist industry introduced even more approaches and perspectives in defining, analyzing and understanding management and organizational structure. Because of the changing structures and process that defines and redefines organizations and management, new theories are generated in order to understand what is going on. With this, postmodernist theories begin to emerge as it tries to delve deeper into the self-conscious artistic expressions that influence management and organization structures, processes and systems. Modernist theories define and explain structures, systems and processes in functional and rational concepts while postmodern theories analyze its representations. Instead of defining truths and realities, its definition lies in the conception of realities and how it is used depending on the cultural and social background of the interpreter (Hancock and Taylor p.18). It looks into the multiple interpretations of situations based not only using a contextual approach but also a more personal and individualistic approach. It focuses on diversity of thoughts and behaviors relating to the actions. Lyotard and Foucault heavily influenced postmodern approach. While Lyotard focused on pluralism in analyzing social structure Foucault emphasises that reality is socially constructed. This indicates that postmodern thought looks into situations through perception analysis aside from conetxtual analysis, which is the focus of critical theory. It defines situations in terms of the socially formed norms and values circulating within the culture that the situation exists. Postmodern approach does not look into the power structures at play but it looks at what relative nature of truth applies to the certain structures and situations present in the society (Hancock and Taylor p.23). Postmodern theories also focus on the space of resistance that allows recreation or reinvention of thoughts and ideas (Hancock and Taylor p.24). Since there is no fixed or absolute system, structures or truth, Foucault explains the need for a space to recreate oneself to promote improvement and development. Postmodernism, thus, has a more subjective approach in analyzing and explaining things as opposed to critical analysis and modernism. Modernist Definition of Management Management is the act of defining, analyzing and developing strategies that will meet the needs and demands of the organization in order for it to establish and develop the economic side of the organization. This is one functional definition of management. A manager serves a number of technical functions that is needed to fulfill the needs of the organization. Management is defined by the expertise of the action making body that defines the structure of the organization, in which it functions. This is the mainstream definition of management, which shows a modernist approach to understanding management. With this, it shows that modernist approach defines management in rigid realities in which the systems and structures are not flexible depending on the situation and the context within the social structure it belongs to. Critical perspective and postmodern perspective, then, allows a more encompassing and in-depth analysis and understanding of the management and organization structure aimed to develop and to integrate social structures and contextual analysis in defining better management styles and approaches that will improve and develop the organization according to its goals and objectives. Because of the rigid structure of management based on the modernist perspective, the work environment and the management work according to the rules and regulations and the functionalities of these rules and regulations. Because of this, the structures become inflexible to the changes that may happen. Also, a modernist and traditional approach to management aims only to make sure that all departments are functioning according to their roles, which is needed to be fulfilled in order to establish and stabilize the structure of the entire organization. This approach limits management styles into a functionalist perspective, which values more the power structures and economic balance rather than the progression and improvement of both the organization and its people. Through the critical theory and the postmodern theory, the idea about management changes, too. It redefines the way how management should be in terms of maintaining a progressive system of management. Managers are defined through their functions and responsibilities. Traditional management approaches focus on defining these functions and increases the gap between the manager and the employees they manage. This restricts management styles and approaches to a conditional compliance rather than an active consent between the organization, management and the employees (Alvesson and Willmont p.34). It can be seen that the modern or traditional approach to management instills power games within the organization as it emphasizes the roles of each employee. With the critical approach and postmodern approach, the emphasis is on the impact of each employee in the organization’s success or failure. It is important that there is cooperation within the organization. Critical and postmodern approach provides the flexibility of the management styles and approaches and it emphasizes the need for the organization to allow participation in making decisions. This abolishes the power structures and allows emphasis on employee inputs, thus, allowing them to see and feel the importance of decision making in the progression of the organization. In the traditional and modernist approach to management, managers become agents of rationalized and rigid structures and systems. Since they tend to become the link between the employees and organization, they rely on textbook rationalities, which restrict their own decision-making skills, innovativeness and creativity. With this, they become robotic and devoid of abstract and contextual thinking since they only respond according to how the organization structures its goals and objectives. Critical Approach in Management Style Using a critical approach in management allows the manager to look deep into the situation and do a root cause analysis of the situation in order to define strategies that will mitigate or eliminate the cause of the problem. Instead of defining rules and regulations that will serve as disciplinary actions when there is an employee offense, the management will be able to see what is, in fact, causing the problem allowing a better understanding of the possibilities of the situation happening again. Because of the diverse cultures, values and norms of the employees, which build the organization, a more in-depth approach of understanding and analyzing the situation is important. This way, there can be a deeper understanding of what, why and how it happened. Critical approach when used in management allows a better understanding of the situation since it looks into contextual meanings of the incident. One’s culture may accept or reject a certain management rule because of their norms and values. Knowing the background and history of the people involved in the situation and the possible reasons why it happened would equip the management better in finding appropriate solutions for the said problem. What may have happened the first time an offense happened might reveal a different reason from the second time the offense happened. For example, looking into absenteeism as a problem in an organization, the management should consider it important to look into the days when absenteeism is the highest and when it is the least. It is also important to note if the absent workers are always the same people. This is a contextual analysis of absenteeism. If the end of the workweek, like Friday is the day wherein there is a high absenteeism rate most of the time, then the management should look at what happens to a typical Friday to determine the possible reasons why employees go on absent on this day. It should also be taken into account what happens in the entire week since Friday is the last day of the workweek. If absenteeism rate is high because of the same people going on absent, then it should be taken into account their personal reasons why they go on absent. Getting the root cause of this problem and finding out how each reason affects the reason of the employees in going to work would provide the management better understanding of how this issue could be mitigated or even eliminated. If the people feel stressed out at the end of the workweek, that’s why they decide to go on absent on a Friday to have a longer weekend, then action plans should focus on making the entire week less burdensome by managing work responsibilities on a daily basis. If the same people go on absent and the management finds out that one reason why a certain employee have a high absenteeism rate is lack of motivation to go to work, then solutions should center on employee recognition. Critical approach in management allows the management to define solutions based on the contextual analysis of the situation and the social influences that affect the behavior of the individual. With this, there is a more personalized approach in action planning and determining future directions that the management can take in order for the situation not to happen again. This allows the management to have a more individualistic approach in managing its people. Postmodern Approach in Management Style Postmodern approach allows flexibility in the workplace. This can be seen through a certain coaching style which allows the concerned employee to have his own inputs in improving one’s areas of opportunities. This is important for an employee since it makes him part of the decision making and action planning. This increases employee involvement allowing him to see his importance in the entire organization. Unlike in the traditional approach where the management sets the rules and if there is an offense then the employee is automatically given a sanction without looking into the deeper reason why the offense happened, the postmodern approach allows the employee to reinvent himself and give himself appropriate sanctions that he will be able to fulfill. This will show that the management gives the employees appropriate sanctions according to what is expected of them and the employee is allowed to give his suggestions in mitigating said circumstances. Using a postmodern approach in managing people, there is more flexibility in dealing with employees in which they are seen as valuable assets in the company. It is more employee-centered and there is focus on the service of the company rather than the rigid structures of economic and management control. There is delegation in work and there are diverse groups of self-managing and self-controlled teams with different centers of coordination according to the project or task at hand. There is more involvement within the entire organization as opposed to a traditional or modern approach where the center of the organization are the higher management and there is a top down approach in implementing rules. With postmodern approach, the employees are empowered and continuous progression and improvement is taken into consideration for the improvement of the entire organization. Works Cited Alvesson, M. And Willmott, H. Making Sense of Management. A critical Introduction. London: Sage Publications, 1996. Casey, C. Critical Analysis of Organizations: Theory, Practice, Revitalization. London: Sage Publications, 2002. Garston, N. Bureaucracy: three paradigms. NY: Springer Publications, 1993. Hancock, P. and Tyler, M. Work, Postmodernism and Organizations: A Critical Introduction. London: Sage Publications, 2001. Read More