The Ideas of Classical Theorists

The melodic themes of the unmixed theorists, particularly those of bureaucracy and scientific management, argon generally considered as rather old fashion and out of date, and of little relevancy to work and musical arrangement today. Is this really the slip? Consider the above advancement through a critical trial run of practices which can be identified in work today. In your analysis, you should toady upon appropriate academic material, and also other sources which can help in identifying current practices.These can include your own nonpluss from work, those of family relatives and friends, weblogs, operative life diaries, raw(a)sprint articles and other media reports. Jean-Luc Adamson 110105367 Word Count- 1879 It is a valid and reasonable claim that the ideas of the genuine theorists atomic number 18 out-of-date. umpteen argue that ideas of Bureaucracy by weber and scientific watchfulness by Taylor do not claim any relevancy in advance(a) day working practice s. However these ideas extradite evolved as the wrinkle world has developed, and it is clear that they form the buttocks of many new working practices that exist in red-brick day organisations.By carriageing at the reality of these contemporary practices, we can see that many businesses serene party favour a coherent approach. This approach draws elements from the ideas of bureaucracy and scientific management, and shows there relevance in current working practices. The practice session of a Fordist approach, as thoroughly as the McDonaldization of companies further demonstrates the validity of the classical theories, as a rear end for new approaches. It is also measurable to evaluate the claim that in much recent seasons there has been a gaucherie to a Post-Fordist and Post-Bureaucratic society.This proposed translation demands that a disparate approach to management and organisation is required, yet we have to ask the question, will the removal of bureaucratic a nd scientific elements in business ever be adept? When examining organisations the reality is often very different to the grandiloquence. The rhetoric run intos a more theoretical approach and tries to apologize what should happen. However, in order to evaluate the relevance of the classical approaches in modern day practices, we must look at what does happen. The orthodox rhetoric executes a modern approach, where employees argon a major asset, and have been empowered.Management is more hands onward and a flexible environment suits employees. While certain businesses may make this theory, and it is clear that in modern business, even the more rational approaches are influenced by it, the reality is different. Since the introduction of the Fordist model, production has been shadowd by this rational idea. It was designed to increase efficiency in productivity by using assembly lines and the division of labour into smaller parts increased influence (Pugh D S & Hickson D J, 1989), thus dehumanizing the production process.McDonaldization is a allegory used to describe the integral part of rational processes similar to those rationalizeed by Weber and Taylor, in modern day organisations. McDonaldization is described by toilet Ritzer as the process by which the principles of the fast- regimen restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. (The Case of McDonalds from Wilson F, 2004). It uses the manikin of the fast food restaurant to explain the reality of how businesses operate in particular those concerned with mass production.The dimensions of Mcdonaldization get oer the efficiency, calculability and predictability that it produces. Close rules and regulations, dictated by a central command, look to better efficiency and have very strong connotations with Webers theory of bureaucracy. The emphasis on quantative aspects of the product and the interest in quantity over quality again conve y the de-humanisation of the workforce, which portrays the parallels with Taylors theory of Scientific management.The predictability is required and what firms pick outing Mcdonaldization metaphor strive for, which again demonstrates the similarities with the production line aspect of Taylors theory. It is clear that the classical theories still influence todays companies, however McDonaldization appears to use elements of the rhetoric ideals, which makes it different from Fordism. Subsequently in Ritzers critique of McDonaldization he explains how bore histrions, bent the rules for amusement to make the dull routines more bearable. like transmittable a girl eye, as she walked in (The Case of McDonalds from Wilson F, 2004). Burawoy notes how these games are beneficial as they give some control back to the workforce and are thus tolerated by management, because they enhance the efficiency of work (BURAWOY. M, 1985). This supports the assumption that the ideas of the classical th eorists are evident but have evolved and encompassed ideas from more modern works, that take a firm stand on the idea of employee empowerment macrocosm beneficial to an organisation.Despite the more modern theorists approach, the orthodox rhetoric is essentially an ideal and tends to ignore the true reality of modern organisations. I have experienced firsthand, working in a fast food restaurant where it has also seen the benefits of McDonaldizing. The restaurant served fried food of a reasonable quality. The business organization required little skill and we had to get along rules on how we served, cleaned and produced the food and drink. The managers were there to make sure we followed these rules, which were in butt to provide efficiency and consistency, regarding the food and service.The management however deployed a repulse arbitrary approach, as the chefs were able to decide what the special for the day would be, as well as the employees deciding when to clean and arran ge certain advertisements and displays. My experience is an example that supports the view that the classical theories are still pertinent. Yet the more modern influences on this particular organisation by allowing the employees some control, explain that those classical theories are somewhat outdate, and that they have evolved as business has developed.Instrumental reasonableness is very important when looking at working practices. It helps a somebody decide how to do things, such as efficiently perform adept tasks, resolve conflicts and solve problems by regarding the detailors involved in a fact as variable to be controlled. (BusinessDictionary. com 2012) Instrumental understanding looks at how to conjure and not why. It often disregards morals and ethics, and firms that adopt the use of instrumental reasonableness in there organisation are often focused on gaining maximum profits. Weber saw bureaucracy as a trope for instrumental tenableness.He believed that Bureaucra cy as the most efficient structure and the fact it disregarded morals and ethics made bureaucracy an instrumentally rational practice. Many modern working practices still use instrumental rationality in modern day working practices such as businesses which follow a fordist approach or firms that have McDonaldized practices. Taylor devoted a lot of time to looking at how instrumental rationality could be used in industry. () His conclusion to his research showed that the means of improving worker efficiency and roductivity take precedence over the end of respect for human dignity. This rationality shares connotations with the idea of a Fordist approach, and thus demonstrates how instrumental rationality and Scientific Management go hand in hand. Subsequently we can see through the use of instrumental rationality, the classical theorists views are still relevant today. A working diary of a Customer Service worker demonstrates how instrumental rationality functions in the workplace. I t also conveys elements of Bureaucracy and Scientific Management in modern day working practices.The writer of the diary explains various(a) situations, which show the appearance of these ideas in current practices. The woman explains how they receive favourable stars for increased gross revenue. This is patronizing and highlights the simple and regulated work that these people are asked to do. The more sales they achieve the more they are recognised. This shows instrumental rationality in the delegacy the management deals with its employees. They are trying to increase sales by offering incentives to the workers in the form of gold stars. Yet they are doing this at the expense of the employees motivation.This links in with the McDonaldization example that explains the unreason of Rationality. This concept with reference to the works journal shows that the firm is being rational by trying to improve efficiency within the organisation yet they are neglecting substantive rationali ty by ignoring the needs of its employees. furthermore the extent to which this worker is monitored, shows how little control the workers have over their jobs, and it is managements job to make sure they are following the rules precisely. okay. How about last sunlight? You clocked in 27 seconds late. This demonstrates how apparent instrumental rationality is in this organisation, as it is purely about how to organize their employees and disregarding the human side of management. frankincense the reality of working situations show that elements of Bureaucracy and Scientific Management still exists, but subsequently suggests that these theories are somewhat outdated despite being a reality in modern working practices. (Workstiff Diaries, customer service. 2004) The break of serve to a Post-Bureaucratic state in working practices, suggests that Bureaucracy is dead.The alleged shift to a post industrial society implies that the classical theorists are outdated and that there is no re levance to them in modern day working practices. However when looking at the reality of current day organisations, it is important to ask the question has there been a shift to a Post-Bureaucratic state and if so to what extent? When comparing the Fordist approach, to more recent approaches used in Businesses today, I feel that to some extent there has been a shift. An example looks at Fordism and the metaphor of McDonaldization.McDonaldization is essentially Fordism, but it offers a more human, and autocratic approach. However when looking at example such as the Workers Diary this shows, that in reality the shift towards a post-bureaucratic state where trust, empowerment and dual-lane responsibility become a reality, has not happened, and the ideas of the classical theorists still have a basis in modern day working practices. It is potential to argue that the views of the classical theorists are outdated. We can see that from these approaches there lacks a human element in the ex pressive style that organisations that adopt these theories act.Despite continuous organic evolution of these theories, it is clear that they do not encompass the needs of their employees in modern day working practices. However to answer the question we have to look at whether the ideas of Bureaucracy and Scientific management still have relevance in modern working practices. The answer to this is that the classical theories form the basis of many working practices throughout business. In reality, many firms still adopt the ideas of the classical theorists, in different measures. A very common commonplace is that no organisation is the same.Despite the notion that every business requires its own way of operating and that a contingency theory approach is often the way forward, the ideas of the classical theorists cannot be ignored. Modern working practices have developed since Weber and Taylors theories, and they will continue to do so. However it is hard to see a time where the c lassical theorists views will not be relevant. Word Count- 1879 Bibliography * Anonomous. (2012) Customer Service, WorkingStiff Diaries, from the US in the late 1990s . Working Stiff Diaries, blog 12th Sept 2004, Available at http//www. weblab. rg/workingstiff/ Accessed Wednesday 12th celestial latitude 2012. * BURAWOY, M. (1985). The politics of production factory regimes under capitalism and socialism. London, Verso. * Businessdictionary. com (n. d. )What is instrumental rationality? definition and meaning. online Available at http//www. businessdictionary. com/definition/instrumental-rationality. html Accessed 14 declination 2012. * Pugh D S & Hickson D J (1989) Writers on Organizations, 4th variance London Penguin, pages 94-97 * The Case of McDonalds from Wilson F (2004)Organizational Behaviour and Work, pps 55-59