Public Organizations - Research Paper Example

Public Organizations Introduction The public organizations have greater role in society than the private organizations. The public organizations aremainly established to serve people without taking monetary consideration. They are established to provide inexpensive medical facility, to provide relief and rescue services and to offer other government based services. On the other hand, the private organizations are only established to earn profit and amass wealth for owners. They do not have any social agenda or program similar to one offered and served by the public organizations. Keeping this view in mind, the paper will be useful to understand and evaluate the organizational effectiveness of public organizations. At the same time, the paper shall be useful to understand the practical applications of different communication technologies. Purpose The purpose is to understand the conceptual framework of organizational effectiveness. The understanding of organizational effectiveness remains a central theme in the paper as it is understanding and applicability of this concept that shall be practically comprehended with the use of secondary research. In the recent times, subsequent to that, the use of electronic communication technologies is becoming a common practice in the public sector organizations. As the fundamental objective of public sector organizations to is not to earn profit but to serve people, the paper shall be focusing on the usefulness of such technologies particularly while assessing the organizational effectiveness of public sector organizations. Bureaucratic structure and political interference is common in the public organizations. The political interference is not only common in the developing nations but also found in the developed countries such as the United States of America. Keeping this view in mind, the paper shall be focusing on the challenges that are being faced by the public sector organizations while employing the latest communication technologies. Research Questions What is organizational effectiveness? How modern electronic communication technologies could be employed to enhance the organizational effectiveness of public organizations? What are the challenges that could be encountered while using modern communication technologies to achieve organizational effectiveness of public organizations? Literature Review Organizational Effectiveness of Public Organizations The internal components of an organization construct essential but critical sources for success (Barney, 1991). Growing focus has been extended to identify and understand what features are essential to organizational uninterrupted success and how they directly or indirectly put their influence on aggregate organizational outcomes (Zheng, Yang and McLean, 2010, p. 763). The main characteristics framing organization include culture, structure, political and power features (Pettigrew, 1979). They make up an organizational environment in which organizational practices and activities take place. Effectiveness has long remained a contested and unsettled conceptual framework in general organizational theory (Herman and Renz, 2008, p. 400). However, authors have been able to define organizational effectiveness as “the degree to which an organization realizes its goals” (Daft, 1995, p. 98). In the similar direction, some authors have elaborated that organizational effectiveness is assessed by a congruence point between the organization’s goals and the observed outcome. Here, the concept of assessment is considerably significant as it defines the degree of this congruence point between the organizational goals and organizational outcomes. More specifically, the effectiveness is measured as how better it performs and obtains its pre-determined organizational outcomes. The biggest advantage of this assessment is that it enables organizations to know their existing organizational performance and conclude whether it has been able to satisfy its pre-determined organizational objectives. Additionally, Mintzberg (1991) has opined that organizational effectiveness will take place when the interplay of seven fundamental forces: efficiency, direction, innovation, proficiency, concentration, competition/politics, and cooperation/culture is effectively managed. There is no way to avoid organizational politics in public organizations. Numerous authors consider this aspect as a positive and constructive way to manage organizations. On the other hand, some argue that organizational politics in the public organizations is nothing more than a way to complicate the organizational function. At the same time, they contend that the organizational politics has become a biggest hindrance for attaining organizational effectiveness. Effects of Communication Technologies on Public Organizations Information communications technologies (ICT)-enabled electronic functions enhance the competitiveness and productivity of organizations. The modern technologies such as telephones, computers, laptops and the Internet have considerably revolutionized the traditional functions of organizations. And over the years, public sector organizations have employed a range of different technological means and document formats through software systems (Lundell, 2011, p. 2).The main advantages of ICTs include enhancing public sector accountability, effectiveness and most importantly transparency and the relationship between ICT and public sector organizations have become very important (Cordella and Iannacci, 2010, p.53).These features are highly critical for public sector organizations as they evaluate and determine practical performance of public sector organizations. Additionally, ICTs enable the public sector organizations to increase their coordination, cooperation and communication with other public sector agencies and with the ordinary citizens (Proenza, 2003, p. 1). The effects of ICTs on public sector organizations are wide spread. The effects include strategic alliances, decentralization and rapid response (Proenza, 2003, p. 1). Strategic alliances enable organizations to avail benefits of complementarities with other producers, who do not compete in the same market. For example, agricultural and agro-based industrial export ventures routinely conduct supply from various producers working within a locality or region with an aim of collectively competing with the rest of the world. For such type of coordination, the use of modern communication technologies is unavoidable. The public sector organizations considerably apply decentralization in its organizational structure. The main objective of decentralization is to facilitate communication flows between customers, management, suppliers and other functionaries working within organization. However, some authors contend that the regular maintenance and consistent application of communication technologies face numerous challenges as transactions or routine works do not get easy clearance due to the practice of red tape. Many functionaries do not work as they should be as they do not feel much pressure similar to one that is common in the private sector organizations. Modern communication technologies have also provided rapid response. The use of the Internet, computers connectivity and the mobile phones has enabled public sector organizations to remain open and functional around the clock. For example, the fire department may not take much time when it is accessed through the mobile phone than it is contacted through any other communication method. Gap in the Existing Knowledge The literature review lacks the effects of bureaucratic system on the organizational effectiveness. There is no doubt that many public sector organizations fail to perform well when the bureaucratic structure do not contemplate serving the long term objectives of organization or improving organizational effectiveness of public sector organizations. In the absence of in-depth analysis of the effects of bureaucratic structure on the organizational effectiveness, it would be challenging to accept comprehensive usefulness of the study included in the literature review. Although the researcher has made an appropriate attempt to meet the paper requirements relevant to the literature review, yet the absence of adequate academic analysis of bureaucratic system requires additional research and extensive analysis of the effects of bureaucracy on the organizational effectiveness. Methodology Methodology chapter is consisted of research philosophies, research approaches, data collection methods, validity and reliability, research ethics and timescale. Aggregately, they provide a structure that is used to collect and provide a strategy that shall be used in dissertations. Research Philosophies Research philosophies include Positivism and Phenomenology. Positivism has been defined as the experimental methods of the natural science are only methods employed for research purposes (Cubeddu, 2005, p. 39). Positivism relates to objectivity and employs scientific methods for the purpose of research. On the other hand, Phenomenology has been defined as the study of phenomena: appearances of objects as they appear in our experience or as we experience things (Klenke, 2008, p.222). Phenomenology emphasizes on the use of subjective understanding while conducting research, which is a contradictory approach to Positivism. The researcher intends to Phenomenology in order to entertain the research objectives of this paper. The rationale behind using this research philosophy is provided by the nature of the requirements of this paper. The research questions are mostly based on the use non-numerical descriptions which can only be appropriately satisfied by employing the philosophy of Phenomenology. Quantitative and Qualitative Research Approaches for Data Interpretation Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches are employed to entertain research objectives. The quantitative approach relates to the philosophy of Positivism and it has been defined as “the numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of explaining the phenomena that those observations represent” (Babbie, 2010, p.G9). On the other hand, qualitative research, which relates to the philosophy of Phenomenology, is defined as an approach in which non-quantitative data are employed (Gill and Johnson, 2010, p.148). The researcher intends to employ the qualitative research approach as the paper requirements of can be better satisfied by employing the qualitative research rather than the quantitative research approach. Data Collection Methods Data collection methods include primary and secondary data collection methods. Primary research is defined as the collection of data that does not already exist (Jugenheimer et al. 2010, p.29). There can be different methods to collect primary data including face to face and telephonic interviews, electronic mails and so on. On the other hand, secondary data collection method is defined as research using material that someone else has already provided or published information in the shapes such as books, periodicals and so on (Leiskar, 2005, p. 520). The researcher intends to employ the secondary data collection method to satisfy the paper requirements. The nature of research questions requires the researcher to employ the secondary research as the primary data collection method may not appropriate to appropriately satisfy the paper requirements. Validity and reliability Validity has been defined as the extent of accuracy in findings (Goodwin and Goodwin, 1996, p. 140). And reliability is defined s yielding consistent measurements from one participant to another (Myrna and Araneta, 2011, p. 52). The researcher intends to use valid and reliable resources to ensure the inclusion of validity and reliability in the paper. Timescale [kindly, include your timescale or breakdown to complete the different portions of dissertations]. Conclusion Expectations There are two expectations from the paper. First, this paper shall enable the readers to understand the usefulness of public organizations and their social significance and contribution along with the use of modern electronic communication technologies. Second, the paper shall highlight the different challenges faced by the public organizations along with their organizational effectiveness, which has become a critical evaluative tool mainly employed to effectiveness of organizations. Implications Numerous implications are expected from the paper. First, it would critically assess the existing framework used to evaluate the organizational effectiveness of different private and public sector organizations. This critical assessment would authenticate whether the existing methods used to understand organizational effectiveness are useful. References Babbie, E. (2010). The Practice of Social Research. (12thed.). California: Wadsworth. Barney J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management 17(1):99-120. Cordella, A. Iannacci, F. (2010). Information systems in the public sector: The e-Government enactment framework. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 19. 52-66. Cubeddu, R. (2005). The Philosophy of the Austrian School. London: Routledge. Daft R.L. (1995). Organizational theory and design. St. Paul: West Publishing. Gill, J. & Johnson, P. (2010). Research Methods for Managers, (4th Ed.). London: Sage. Goodwin, W.L., & Goodwin, L.D. (1996). Understanding Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Early Childhood Education. New York: Teachers College Press. Herman, R.D., Renz, D.O., (2008). Advancing Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness Research and Theory Nine Theses. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 18(4). 399-445. Jugenheimer, D.W., Bradley, S.D., Kelly, L.D., & Hudson, J.C. (2010). Advertising and Public Relations Research. New York: M.E. Sharpe. Klenke, K.(2008). Qualitative Research in the Study of Leadership. United Kingdom: Emerald Group. Leiskar, R.V. (2005). Basic Business Communication: Skills for Empowering the Internet Generation. New York: Tata McGraw-Hill. Lundell, B. (2011). E-Governance in public sector ICT procurement: what is shaping practice in Sweden?. European Journal of ePractice, 12. 1-13. Mintzberg, H. (1991). The Effective Organization: Forces and Forms. Sloan Management Review, 32(2). 54 - 68. Myrna, R.H., & Araneta, R.H. (2011). Inspiring Lives: Personal Stories of Sustained Transformation. USA: Xlibris Corporation, Pettigrew A.M.(1979). On studying organizational cultures. Administrative Science Quarterly 24.570–578. Proenza, F.J. (2003). ICT-Enabled Networks, Public Sector Performance and the Development of Information and Communication Technologies. Retrieved from . Zheng, W., Yang, B., McLean, G.N., (2010). Linking organizational culture, structure, strategy, and organizational effectiveness: Mediating role of knowledge management. Journal of Business Research, 63, 763-771 Reference Chart # Date Author Field of Scholarship Unit of Analysis Methods of Data Collection Questions Asked Answers/ Findings Implications 1 2008 Herman, R.D., Renz, D.O. Public Affairs(Professor) Nonprofit leadership (Professor) Organizational effectiveness Empirical studies Is nonprofit organizational effectiveness a reality waiting to be uncovered by those looking for it? Nonprofit organization effectiveness remains a challenging and complicated construct. Nonprofit leaders need to understand that NPO effectiveness is socially attached but is unstable. 2 2010 Zheng, W. Yang, B. McLean, G.N. Human Resource (Professor) Organizational behavior (Professor) Human Resource (Professor) Knowledge management and organizational structure and effectiveness Survey Is organizational strategy positively related to organizational effectiveness? Organizational strategy exerts a considerable influence on organizational effectiveness. Knowledge management can affect organizational effectiveness when it is aligned with structure, culture and strategy. 3 2010 Cordella, A. Iannacci, F. Professor E-Government Empirical study What is relationship between e-government policies and information systems design and choice? Outcomes of e-government policies are a combination of technological, social and political components. A relevant difference between public and private sector organizational changes prompted by information systems enforcement which has not yet been completely addressed by e-Government research. 4 2011 Lundell, B. professor E-Governance in public sector Survey Is it reasonable to require any organization to buy particular software for communicating with a governmental organization? No documentation of any software purchase decision process. Delayed relies indicate no such tradition exist. A significance of ICT procurement in the public sector organizations can be traced further. Read More