organizational structure theories and hawthorne studies
The Problem:

Pretend you are an organizational consultant. The Hawthorne Works are experiencing problems with worker productivity. They’ve already hired a group of researchers to conduct some experiments to figure out what is going wrong. But, the company would like a second opinion. Your firm has been hired to provide this second opinion because you are known for specializing in one of the three main theoretical traditions in organizational theory.

Your answer should demonstrate that you understand of the core elements in classical organizational theory. So make sure you use core course concepts in your answer.

1. Your firm specializes in Contingency Theory:

a) Analyze the Experiments
Were there any problems that arose in the Hawthorne Experiments that could be explained by contingency theory? As a contingency theorist, explain and analyze these problems.

b) Provide a Second Opinion
Using contingency theory, what organization changes should the Hawthorne Works implement to improve productivity? As a contingency theorist, explain and analyze why your proposed changes would improve productivity.

2. Your firm specializes in Institutional Theory:

a) Analyze the Experiments
Were there any problems that arose in the Hawthorne Experiments that could be explained by institutional theory? As an institutional theorist, explain and analyze these problems.

b) Provide a Second Opinion
Using institutional theory, what organization changes should the Hawthorne Works implement to improve productivity? As an institutional theorist, explain and analyze why your proposed changes would improve productivity.

3. Your firm specializes in Elite Theory:

a) Analyze the Experiments
Were there any problems that arose in the Hawthorne Experiments that could be explained by elite theory? As an elite theorist, explain and analyze these problems.

b) Provide a Second Opinion
Using elite theory, what organization changes should the Hawthorne Works implement to improve productivity? As an elite theorist, explain and analyze why your proposed changes would improve productivity.

Further breakdown of the questions
Your firm specializes in Contingency/Institution/Elite Theory (Pick 2 of 3):

a) Analyze the Experiments
Were there any problems that arose in the Hawthorne Experiments that could be explained by ________ theory? As a ________ theorist, explain and analyze these problems.

b) Provide a Second Opinion:
Using _______ theory, what organization changes should the Hawthorne Works implement to improve productivity? As a _____ theorist, explain and analyze why your proposed changes would improve productivity.

Steps to Preparing for the Test

Step One:

Read: Homans, George C. “The Hawthorne Experiments (1941)”, pp. 85-96.

This article clearly outlines the details of the Hawthorne Experiments.

Step Two:
Figure out what each of the three main organizational theories (institutional, contingency, and elite theory) are about.

Then, pretend you are an organization consultant. You’ve been employed by the Hawthorne Works to provide a second opinion on the experiments. Your firm uses one of the three theories to think about how organizations should be run.

3 Theories

Institutional Theory
(You can use any of the three authors)

a) Selznick:
Formal theories of organizations treat individuals as functions that are supposed to fulfil a role
Selznick argues that the formal aspects of the organization cannot completely dominate the informal, irrational elements in an organization.
Often the informal elements in an organization (relationships between workers, informal laws, small cliques in the workplace, etc.) come into direct conflict with the formal structures of authority

Main Problem: How do you deal with informal deviations, while ensuring the 5 “Imperatives of Maintenance” are fulfilled? He provides 2 solutions in the reading.

i. Analyze the experiments:

Q. What informal deviations were evident in the experiment that disrupted the 5 Imperatives of Maintenance at the Hawthorne Experiments?

ii. Provide alternative solutions to improving productivity

Q. Using Selznick’s theory, what organizational changes should the Hawthorne Works implement to improve productivity? Remember the changes have to be inline with his two solutions & the Five Imperatives of Maintenance.

Or focus on:

b) Paul DiMaggio and Walter Powell (1983) & Meyer and Rowan (1977):

i. Analyze the Experiments:
Q. Were there problems in the Hawthorne Experiments that could be the result of not having enough formal elements? Can you find some that relate to each of the “Three Pillars of Institutions” (Regulative, Normative, or Cultural-Cognitive)?

ii. Provide alternative solutions to improving productivity:

Could you implement different formal, organizational solutions that fall within the pillars? What specific changes might you suggest as an institutional theorist? Give details.

Contingency Theory

Organizations are open systems that need careful management to satisfy and balance internal needs and to adapt to environmental circumstances.”
“There is no one best way of organizing. The appropriate form depends on the kind of task or environment with which one is dealing.”
“Management must be concerned, above all else, with achieving alignments and ‘good fits’.”
“Different approaches to management may be necessary to perform different task within the same organization.”
“Different types or ‘species’ of organizations are needed in different types of environments.”

Joan Woodward:

First, figure out what type of technology fits the Hawthorne Works: Unit & Small Batch Technology, Large Batch & Mass Production Technology, or Continuous Process Technology?

Second, ask yourself: Is the organizational design of the Hawthorne Works appropriate for the ideal model that Woodward provides for the type of technology it uses? (refer to chart in lecture notes)

i. Analyze the Experiments: Q. Were there any problems that arose in the Hawthorne Experiments caused by not using the appropriate organizational model? Use the different categories in the chart.
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