This textbook provides an overview of organisation models used in practice from over a century ago to the present day. It outlines the effects these models have on efficiency, learning, innovation and workers’ health and offers critical reflections for students. Some of the models covered are Taylorism, bureaucracy, the socio-technical school, process organisation such as lean production, learning organisations, knowledge management, project organising including agile, platform economy, professional organisations, new public management and sustainable organisations.
Featuring learning objectives and reflective questions for students of organisation studies and design, this textbook has a pedagogical structure based on the division of work and the coordination of work. Conclusions are presented on contemporary work organisation models’ impact on working life, ultimately encouraging students to ask the question, how can we create more sustainable work organisations.
Author(s): P-O Börnfelt
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 186
City: Cham
Preface
About This Book
Contents
1 Organisation and Work Organisation
Learning Objectives
Introduction
The Organisation Society
Work
Work Organisation
The Division of Work in Different Tasks
Coordination and Control
Motivation
Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic and Social Motivation
Leadership—Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-Faire
Reasons for the Development and Diffusion of Work Organisation Models
Some Work Organisation Models Are Perceived as Successful and Are Given High Status
The Labour Market
A Neoliberal Wave in Politics, Society and Working Life
A Globalised Economy and the Growth of a Global Finance Sector
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
2 Taylorism and Fordism
Learning Objectives
Scientific Management
The Artisan Society
The Management Takes Control of the Work Process
Individually Organised Work
White-Collar Workers Planned the Work in Detail
Control by Functional Leadership
Ford’s Mass Production
Suggestion Schemes
Critique of Taylorism and Fordism
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
3 The Bureaucratic Organisation
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Features of the Bureaucracy
Strengths and Weaknesses Related to the Bureaucracy A Better Heading Would be: Some Dysfunctional Effects
Bureaucracies for Profit
Fayol’s Administrative Theory
The Mechanistic Organisation
Advantages and Disadvantages Related to Bureaucracy like Organisations
Hindrance for Learning and Development
Dependency
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
4 The Sociotechnical School
Learning Objectives
The Self-Directed Working Group
Empowerment and the Work Environment
Workers Participating in Development Work
The Diffusion of the Sociotechnical Work Organisation
Protests
Experiments
Critique of the Sociotechnical Work Organisation
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
5 Total Quality Management (TQM) and Process Organisation
Learning Objectives
Quality for the Customer
The Quality Standard ISO 9000
Cutting Down Process Time
Lean Production
Criticism of Lean Production
The Principles of Lean Production
Eliminate Surplus
Low-Skilled Work
Just-In-Time
Technological Control
Team Organisation
Direct Supervision
Internal Market
Visual Control
Using Emotions to Motivate and Control
Continuous Improvement in Quality Control Circles
Commitment
Management by Stress
Manipulation
Hostile Attitude Towards Trade Unions
Some Lean Production Effects
Lean Production Principles in Summary
Eliminate Surplus
Division of Labour—Low-Skilled Work
Several Different Coordination and Control Mechanisms
Continuous Improvement Work and Commitment
Management by Stress
Hostile Attitude Against Trade Unions
A Comparison Between Lean Production and the Sociotechnical School
Shifts of Work Organisation Models
Time Based Management
Business Process Reengineering
Critique
Summary
Increased Focus on Change and Learning
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
6 Organising for Change, Learning and Knowledge
Learning Objectives
The Organic Organisation
The Learning Organisation
The Features of the Learning Organisation
Organisational Structure
Organisational Culture
Argyris’ and Schön’s Theory About Organisational Learning
Model II Theory-In-Use
Critical Reflections on the Learning Organisation
Project Organisation and Agile Management
Agile Project Management
Hinders and Prerequisites for Development
Knowledge Management
Explaining Knowledge Management
Critique of KM
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
7 Professional Organisation and New Public Management—Conflicting Organisation Models in the Public Sector
Learning Objectives
Introduction
The Professional Organisation
New Public Management
Critical Reflections on the Professional Organisation and NPM
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
8 Network Organising
Learning Objectives
The Network Society and Global Supply Chains
Open Innovation
The Gig Economy: Platform Organisations
Division of Labour, Coordination and Control of Work in the Platform Organisation
Consequences for Platform Workers and Initiatives for Fairer Work
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
9 A Changing Working Life—Both Up-Skilling and Down-Skilling, More Pressure and Control
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Polarisation—Both Up-Skilling and Down-Skilling
More Sophisticated Control Mechanisms
Management by Objectives (MBO), Cultural Engineering, Digital Taylorism, Algorithmic Management and the Introduction of Competition in the Public Sector.
The Market as the Governing Principle in New Public Management
Increased Demands, Intensification of Work and Stress Related Unhealth
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
10 Sustainable Work Organisations
Learning Objectives
Healthy Working Conditions
Actors, Agreements and Frameworks Supporting a Sustainable Working Life
Trans-National Institution-Led Frameworks and National Legislation
Social Movement Frameworks and Business Driven Initiatives
Summary
Reflection Questions
Bibliography
Index
