Organational Theory and Leadership - Term Paper Example

An organization is a social group that works for a collective goal. It is usually composed of different kinds of people, who have their own role in the organization. An organization usually has a mission and a vision, and each member works towards the organizations goal. Each member has a purpose, and each members contribution should help the organization move towards its goal. However, each organization needs a leader to guide the members in reaching their specific, as well as collective goal.

Thus, in order for an organization to function efficiently, it is essential to have a leader that understands the workings of his organization. There are different theories on how an organization works. One of the most popular theories on organizational studies is the classical organization theory. According to this theory, an organization should have a defined job and a definite measure of authority, responsibility and accountability, in order to assure its efficiency. The organization is likened to a machine, with the members functioning as the different parts of the machine.

It is thus not surprising that Frederick Winslow Taylor is one of the proponents of the classical theory. F.W. Taylor is a mechanical engineer by profession, and is regarded as the "father of scientific management". In the classical point of view, an organization should be output-oriented. Just like a machine, each part should work well with the other parts in order to ensure productivity. However, unlike a machine, an organization is composed of people, not nuts and bolts that can be overworked without any complaints.

People, unlike parts of a machine, have needs, and when these needs are not provided, they would find it difficult to be productive. Thus, critics found this theory somewhat unreasonable and thus, scholars started formulating other theories to explain the dynamics of organizations. If organizations cannot be likened to