Socio-Informatics 262: Images of Organization

Socio-Informatics 262: Images of Organization 1. Define Autopoeisis - a system capable of producing an maintaining itself by creating its own parts. 2. 4 Logics of Change –  Autopoiesis  Chaos Complexity Theory  Cybernetic Ideas  Tensions between opposites 3. Maturana and Varela –  All living systems are organisationally closed  autonomous systems of interaction that only make reference to themselves. 4. True or False, Maturana and and Varela do not believe living systems are open to an environment. (Autopoeisis) - True 5. Maturana and Varela believe that living systems have 3 characteristics. –  Autonomy  Circularity  Self - reference 6. Metaphor: Egyptian Pyramids as an exercise of organization/ control - 10 000 people over 20 years 2.3 million stone blocks each weighing more than 2 tons = organizations achieve and exploit 7. Egyptian Pyramids are a symbol of ______________________________. –  lives and hard labour of thousands  used to glorify the privileged elite. 8. Who coined the term "ugly face" of organisational life? - UK PM Edward Heath 9. What theorists exemplify the image of organization as Instruments of domination?  Marx  Weber  Robert Michels 10. Which theorist illustrated that bureaucracy was a tool for social domination throughout history? - Weber 11. Weber's Typology of Domination (3) –  Charismatic domination  Traditional domination  Rational - legal domination 12. True or False: Weber states that these typologies of domination are evident in their pure form in society. - False, typologies impinge on one another Charismatic Domination - - rule by virtue of personal qualities - faith vs. structure Administrative apparatus under charismatic domination. - - loose - unstructured - unstable (usually working via a few disciples or intermediaries) Administrative apparatus under Traditional Domination. - - patriarchal - feudal - administrators (personal retainers - relatives, favorites, - dependent on the ruler) - administration is given a small level of autonomy in exchange of allegiance/ loyalty to the ruler. Traditional Domination - - rule by virtue of position in tradition / history - administrative apparatus is feudal / patriarchal