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Organization Theory Samenvatting – Modernisme, Neo-modernisme & Post-modernisme (incl. Weber, Taylor & Hawthorne)

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This comprehensive summary covers the entire Organization Theory (OT) course and provides a clear, structured overview of the most important movements in organization theory. The document follows the historical development of organizations, from early modernism to neo-modernist and post-modernist perspectives. Central themes such as rationality, bureaucracy (Max Weber), scientific management (Frederick Winslow Taylor), Fordism and McDonaldization are clearly explained and critically discussed. In addition, the summary covers general systems theory, contingency theory (Burns & Stalker) and the difference between mechanistic and organic forms of organization. Neo-modernism also receives extensive attention, with a focus on the Human Relations School, Hawthorne studies, motivation, informal group dynamics and the rise of human resource management. It also discusses organisational and corporate culture, forms of management control (bureaucratic, output and cultural control) and new wave/transformational leadership. Finally, the document covers post-modernist organizational theory, including post-Fordism, flexible specialization, globalization, the platform and gig economy and its consequences for work and organizations. The summary contains clear definitions, comparisons, examples and exam-oriented practice questions, making the document very suitable for exam preparation, repetition and understanding of complex theories. Suitable for Business Administration, Organization Studies, Management, HRM and International Business (HBO & WO) students.

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Table of Contents
Notes lecture 2: early modernist perspective: general principles. 4
Overview I: What is modernism?................................................4
The Development of Modernist Management...........................................................13
F.W. Taylor and Scientific Management....................................................................13
Braverman’s & Littler’s Perspectives........................................................................13
Scientific Management in the Soviet Union..............................................................13
Fordism and Assembly Line Production....................................................................13
Global Spread of Scientific Management..................................................................14
Rise of Management Specializations.........................................................................14
Summary:................................................................................................................. 15
Overview II: timeline of early modernist ideas..........................15
Precursor to early modernist perspective of OT........................................................15
Part III.................................................................................... 15
Importance of RATIONALITY......................................................................................15
Rationality in Modernist OT.......................................................................................16
Part IV: Bureaucracy...............................................................16
Max Weber (1864-1920).................................................................16
Weber, 1920: Quest for an organizational ‘ideal type’......................16
Design parameters (what would be expected or rational organization)
....................................................................................................17
Weber’s model of ideal-type bureaucracy (main characteristics)......17
Is the ‘ideal type’ really ideal?........................................................18
Part V: Scientific management.................................................18
Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856-1915)............................................18
Taylor’s scientific management......................................................18
Under scientific management, managers are responsible for many
task..............................................................................................19
The main responsibility of workers.................................................19
Time motion studies as a method...................................................20
Are time and motion studies still relevant today?............................20
Part VI Mass production..........................................................20
“Taylorization” of mass production - The example of the Ford Motor
company (from 1903 on)................................................................20
McDonaldization (George Rtizer, 1993)...........................................20
Advantages and disadvantages of Taylorism as a concept...............21
Spotting the pros and cons............................................................21
Conclusion.............................................................................. 21
Lecture 3 – The modernist perspective: contingency theory and
systems theory.......................................................................22
Spotting the pros and cons............................................................26

, Early modernism recap..................................................................26
Organizations cannot always reply on the one best way because... . .26
Part III – General systems theory (1950s).................................27
The origins of general systems theory............................................27
General systems theory (1950s).....................................................27
Central characteristics of systems theory.......................................28
How do systems connect with their environment?...........................28
An organizational system...............................................................29
The revolutionary impact of general systems theory on organization
....................................................................................................29
Part IV – Contingency theory (1960s)........................................29
What is contingency theory? New approach that emerged from 1960s
....................................................................................................29
Burns and stalker publish a first study (1961).................................29
Mechanistic vs organic structures – burns and stalker 1961.............30
Why do managers prefer mechanistic organizations........................30
But mechanistic organization have drawbacks................................31
Are organic organizations better than for manager.........................31
Organic organizations have drawbacks too!....................................31
Part IV – conclusion.................................................................32
Evolution of modernist perspectives on organizations.....................32
Lecture 4 – the neo-modernist perspective: human relations &
motivation.............................................................................. 32
Neo-modernism – a new understanding of organisations?........................................38
Part III – human relations school..............................................38
BACKGROUND & KEY FIGURES........................................................38
Unpacking human relations............................................................38
Hawthorne studies – cornerstone of human relations school......39
Hawthorne studies (1920s to 1930s)...............................................39
Key experiments............................................................................39
Hawthorne effect...........................................................................40
In the experiments, where any adjustments made in the study was
interpreted by workers as a sign that management cared → provided
some mental stimulation that was good for morale and productivity.
....................................................................................................40
5 key lessons from the Hawthorne experiments..............................40
Motivation matter...................................................................40
Motivation & satisfaction – beyond money......................................40
Roethlisberger’s ideas of motivation..............................................40

,Influence of human relations on organizations – rise of human
resource and personnel management.......................................41
Development of human resource & personnel management.............41
Case study exercise.......................................................................41
Comparing modernism & neo-modernism.......................................42
Conclusion....................................................................................43
Lecture 5 – Neo-modernist theory: riding the new wave: new
forms of managerial control & leadership.................................44
Neo-modernism.............................................................................44
Part II – overview: management and leadership needs to ride the
new wave of neo-modernism...................................................45
The new wave OT its origin story....................................................45
Part III – formal control: how does it work?...............................45
What is control in organizations?....................................................45
Bureaucratic control......................................................................45
Output control...............................................................................46
Cultural control.............................................................................46
What is organizational culture?......................................................47
Why does organizational culture matter?........................................47
What is corporate culture?.............................................................47
Importance of corporate culture and who should develop it.............48
New wave leadership & management – Managerial revolution?. .48
Why change? – it is currently a turbulent world...............................48
“what kind of leaderships do we need?”.........................................49
Emerge of transformational leadership?..........................................49
Conclusion....................................................................................50
Lecture 6 - Recap on modernism & neomodernism....................51
Warm up session...........................................................................51
Evolution of modernist and neomodernist perspectives on
organizations................................................................................52
Practise questions.........................................................................52
Modernist perspectives.............................................................................................52
Neo modernist perspectives.....................................................................................53
Lecture 7 – Post-modernist organization...................................54
Historical developments and their impact on society.......................54
Modernism....................................................................................55
Neo-modernism.............................................................................55
Today............................................................................................55

, A changing world, starting in the 1970s..........................................55
New challenges emerge:................................................................55
Globalization of the economy.........................................................56
Flexibilization of personnel: three forms.........................................56
Post-modern organization theory...................................................56
Post-industrialism and the information society................................56
Lecture 8................................................................................ 57
Neo-fordism, flexible specialization and post-fordism......................57
Development of societal institutions...............................................57
Too successful, is that possible?.....................................................58
The Fordist regime crumbles..........................................................58
main approaches in post modernist…..............................................58
Post-Fordism.................................................................................58
3 schools of Post-Fordism, flexible firm and platform economy (gig
work)............................................................................................59
The flexible firm............................................................................59
New organizational forms..............................................................60
Conclusion post-modern organization.............................................60
Platform economy/ Gig work...........................................................60
Gig work (Stanford 2017)...............................................................60
lecture 10 final wrap up and exam prep....................................61
Evolution of modernist and neomodernist perspectives on
organizations................................................................................62
New wave management and leadership – lecture 5..........................62
5 characteristics of transformation leadership................................62


Notes lecture 2: early modernist
perspective: general principles

Overview I: What is modernism?
Order & structure -> rules, routines, predictability
Rationality & science -> data, logic > opinion
Form follows function -> structure designed for tasks
Functional change -> adapts to environment needs
Efficiency & effectiveness -> ultimate goals
Professional management -> trained experts run organizations
Hierarchy & authority -> clear roles, top-down control

Modernist principles today:

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