Question : “Contemporary Organisational theory seems further afield of Chester Barnard]’s Functions of the Executive than of organisational ecology.” Examine the statement in the light of ecological elements in Barnard’s thought.
(2015)
Answer : Barnard viewed organizations as cooperative systems, which he defined as a complex of physical, biological, personal and social components which are in a specific systematic relationship by reason of the cooperation of two or more persons for at least one definite end. Basically, according to Barnard, we enter into cooperative arrangements to accomplish things we cannot do alone.
He viewed organizations in biological terms akin to a living organism that seeks to survive in a hostile ....
Question : “Follett’s work was not directed towards the resolution of the conflict of ideas, but towards the resolution of structural conflicts between workers and capitalists.” In the light of the statement critically evaluate Follett’s idea of dynamic administration.
(2015)
Answer : Conflicts are bound to rise in an organization where competing interests and viewpoints are present at various levels. To integrate such viewpoints and bring diversity in thought was according to follett was the best solution to manage such conflicts.
She conceptualized her theory in the times of classical mechanistic points of view, and hence found the deficiencies in such approaches which have resulted in the inefficiencies in the organization.
Structural conflicts between workers an capitalists arise due ....
Question : Weberian model of bureaucracy lacks emotional validity when applied to modern democratic administration.” Comment.
(2015)
Answer : Modern democratic administration is more oriented towards decentralization, participation, sensitivity, flexibility in structure, etc. But Weberian bureaucracy lacks emotional validity to be compatible with the modern democratic administration. This can be seen from-
Question : According to McGregor, “True professional help is not in playing God with the client, but in placing professional knowledge and skill at the client’s disposal”. In the light of the above, justify how theory Y is indicative and not prescriptive.
(2014)
Answer : McGregor considers traditional or classical theories as theory X and presented his theory Y as a response to theory X. Classification was based on direction and control. Theory X assumes that:-
Professional having above assumption tries to behave like God. The effect of these assumptions can be seen in professional-client relationship. For e.g. Most the doctors in ....
Question : Is Peter Drucker justified in saying, “Management principles should not tell us what to do,. but only tell us what not to do”? Comment.
(2014)
Answer : Many writers of classical theory tried to give principles of management or make administration a science. Principles strictly speaking is the statements which are universally applicable. But soon it was understood that these principles are not universal.
According to Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, Management should not tell us what to do, because:-
Question : “Governance theory and the notion of governmentality have many points of convergence, but they run on parallel lines.” Comment.
(2014)
Answer : Governance: Relation of government and society is redefined by governance.
It is a networked approach in which different actors come together to solve problems. Increasing complexity of new problems have made govt. to adopt a participative approach. So governance is the process in which government, civil society, corporate etc all come together to achieve the goal.
Governmentality: It is the way through which government try to produce the citizen best suited to fulfill government policies. Inculcation of ....
Question : “Taylor’s ideas need modification in the context of post-industrial economics in contemporary era.” Justify with reasons.
(2014)
Answer : Being dynamic discipline Public administration does not have any fixed theories. Every theory was built to satisfy the situational needs.
Scientific management theory was proposed by the Taylor during the period when:
Question : “Karl Marx’s interpretation of bureaucracy was rooted in the history of the nature of the State.” Evaluate.
(2014)
Answer : Karl Marx was a criticizer of bureaucracy before the period of Weber. i.e.,legal-rational authority. At that time bureaucracy is different from Weber’s bureaucracy. Marx criticized a bureaucracy in end of first half of 19th century. Features of bureaucracy at that time were:
Society which ....
Question : “In the design of physical structures, the anatomy of the organization came first, and was indeed the principal consideration.” “An organization is a system of interrelated social behaviors of participants” Analyse these statements and evaluate the contribution of the respective approach to administrative theory.
(2013)
Answer : First statement points towards the structuralist (administrative management approach) and second refers to human relation school. An organization is a collection of people engaged in specialized and interdependent activity to accomplish a goal or mission. Organization determines the activities which are necessary for a purpose (or plan) and arranging them in the group, which may be assigned to individuals. While the identification of the tasks and their grouping is given priority, the individuals to whom ....
Question : The theory of ‘organizational incompetence’ has two separate and distinct faces. Examine Chris Argyris’ views on this.
(2013)
Answer : Argyris finds the lack of interpersonal competence everywhere in organizations. It means that people do not trust each other; they find excuses for their acts; they never try new ways of doing things, they feel reluctant in being honest about their own feelings. In such situationsopenness of manner and commitment to the job are lacking. However, this incompetence is not limited to one side of organization alone.
In the context of interpersonal competence, Argyris says that ....
Question : “Decisions are not made by ‘organizations’, but by human beings behaving as the members of organizations”. How do Bernard and Simon conceptualize the relation between decision of the individual employee and the organizational authority?
(2013)
Answer : Administration is defined as the art of getting things done. Here, emphasis is placed upon processes and methods for ensuring clear-cut action. In this context, principles are set forth for securing concerted action from groups of men.
Simon is of the opinion that not much attention has been paid to the choice which prefaces all action — to determining of what is to be done, rather than to the ‘actual doing’. The decision aspect did not ....
Question : Structural theory is, by and large, grounded in classical principles of efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Explain.
(2013)
Answer : The important thinkers who have contributed to administrative management approach are Henry Fayol, Mooney, Reiley, Gulick and Urwick. Mary Parker Follet is considered to be the last person to propagate this approach. These thinkers have certain common understanding and approach towards understanding of organizations. In other words their theory is based on certain major premises. Firstly, they gave importance to the structure of the administration organization. They consider that without structure, organization cannot function. For ....
Question : In what respects is Taylor’s ‘Scientific Management’ or classical motivational theory different from the classical organizational theory expounded by Gulick, Urwick etc?
(2012)
Answer : Taylor was not satisfied with contemporary work culture in industrial organizations therefore he presented a new work culture in form of scientific management. The main features of scientific management are:
Gullick & Urwick’s Organisational theory provides 7 principles of Management in Organisation known as POSDCORB- Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, Budgeting.
Taylor’s scientific management was more concentrated at workshop level and ignored the ....
Question : What light does Antonio Gramsci’s critique of Taylorism throw on its sociopsychological underpinnings?
(2012)
Answer : Taylor emphasized increasing productivity through individual efficiency so that wastage of labor, time and resource could be prevented. The critique by Antonio Gramsci of Taylorism also tries to achieve these objectives and emphasizes on three E’s- Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness. Taylor presented many techniques to increase efficiency which could bring in socio-psychological changes on the same basis. The mechanization of the worker allowed him to work efficiently and provided more freedom.
One can walk without having ....
Question : ‘In the canonization of this abstract idea of ‘Staatsraison’ are inseparably woven the sure instincts of the bureaucracy for the conditions which preserve its own power in the State’ [Weber]. Explain.
(2012)
Answer : While analyzing social activities Weber observed why few people give orders and why others follow the orders in the society i.e. where the power lies in the society. Analyzing this question Weber propounded three concepts: Power, Authority and Bureaucracy. Main centre of analysis for Weber was legal rational authority where order is followed on impersonal and objective basis. Weber considered this authority rational because problem is identified on rational basis and ends is recognized first ....
Question : ‘Three features characterize Simon’s original view of bounded rationality : search for alternatives, satisficing, and aspiration adaptation.’ Elucidate.
(2012)
Answer : Simon criticized the pure rationality model given by c;lassical thinkers and propounded the concept of bounded rationality. According to Simon, only bounded rationality is present in place of pure rationality in real situation. Simon underlines that decision makers take decisions but following factors limit their rationality.
Individual factors: According to Simon, the individual values, feelings, prejudices, past experience, unpredictability about the future of a decision maker limit his decision from being pure rational.
Organizational factors: According to ....
Question : Critically examine conflict resolution according to M.P. Follett. Explain how McGregor took forward her ideas in the context of complex organizations.
(2011)
Answer : Follet one of pioneer of organizational behavior argues that conflict, as a natural and inevitable part of life, does not necessarily have to lead to deleterious outcomes. Rather, if approached with the right analytical and imaginative tools a conflict can present an opportunity for positive or constructive development. Follet’s definition of conflict as difference is a bit too parsimonious but this is unimportant as it doesn’t detract from her main insights.
According to Follet, there are ....
Question : Distinguish fully between the syndicate method, role playing method, and T-Group training method in personnel management.
(2010)
Answer : Training is a well articulated effort to provide for an increased competence in the public service, by imparting professional knowledge, broader vision & correct patterns of behaviour, habits and attitudes. Training should be a continuous process. It ishaving the objective of making the individual more technically efficient and thus making organisations more efficient.
There are various forms of training techniques like pre entry, in service & post entry training. Training is given by using various techniques, ....
Question : “The successful management leaders are found in Likert’s System-4 approach to organizational leadership.” Examine.
(2010)
Answer : R. Likert discussed System 4 in terms of improving public administration in one of his final published works. R. Likert defined a System 4 leader as
R. Likert found that managers “fear that ....
Question : “In McGregor’s view, the managerial cosmology meaningfully addresses the understanding of manager and his role perceptions.” Explain.
(2010)
Answer : McGregor’s work highlights his views on the profession of management. The professional manager posthumously published represents McGregor’s concern to develop the profession of management. He had a tremendous interest for theory building and cosmology. According to McGregor, the managerial acts are largely influenced by the manager’s perceptions of organization’s reality.
They affect the achievement of goals of the organization and those of his own. In McGregor’s view, the managerial cosmology, which he theoretically built, should meaningfully ....
Question : From Wilson to Simon most writers have taken the achievement of efficiency as the central objective. Justify with references to the work of major writers.
(2009)
Answer : Wilson, Taylor, Fayal, Webber, Elton Mayo, Bernard, Simon. Various administrative writers have developed various administrative theories according to their different approaches and different perspectives but the central objective of these writers has been to enhance the efficient working of the organization. Some thinkers have given importance to technological aspect, some to structural aspect and some to individual aspect, but the main concern has been to enhance the efficiency of the organization.
Woodrow Wilson gave the principle ....
Question : “The Barnard-Simon Theory of organization is essentially a theory of motivation.”
(2009)
Answer : Bernard is the pioneer in the field of motivation. He recognized that organizations are made up of individual human beings with individual motivation. He developed an equilibrium theory of organization. He suggested that the organization exists by maintaining an equilibrium between the contribution and the satisfactions of its participant members.
He said that, the members participate in organizational activities because they receive actual benefits. He pointed out that it is the task of an organization to ....
Question : “Taylor’s contribution was not a set of general principles for organizing work efficiency, but a set of operating procedures that could be employed in each concrete situation to secure their application.”
(2009)
Answer : Fredric Taylor was the inventor of Scientific Management which is the science of discovering the most efficient method of performing a job. It involves systematic and scientific investigation of all the facts and elements concerned with the work being managed and for this purpose scientific management aims at developing and using scientific techniques and methods of work. The main aim of scientific management was to secure higher productivity by improving organizational efficiency.
However, this concept of ....
Question : ‘Mary Parker Follett was far ahead of her times.’ Discuss.
(2008)
Answer : Daniel. A. Wren says that chronologically, M.P. Follett belonged to the scientific management era and philosophically to the social man era.
As a classical thinker, she believed in the universality of her principles of organization. And as a behaviouralist-human relationist, she emphasized the significance of socio-psychological aspects of organization behaviour. She viewed organization as a social system and administration as a social process. She highlighted, for the first time, the sociological and psychological dimensions of administration ....
Question : Analyse McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y. Do you agree with the view that with every passing year, McGregor’s message has become more relevant and more important? Substantiate your answer.
(2007)
Answer : In management studies, McGregor emerged as a management psychiatrist, who quite significantly demonstrated the unrealistic and limiting assumptions of traditional theories of management concerning human nature and control of human behaviour in the organizational setting.
His empirical researches in organisational conflicts and maladjustments in human relations led him to believe that control in human affairs can be viewed as an integration of human behaviour. He developed two assumptions and quite scientifically tested their hypothesis to propound ....
Question : “Taylor’s Scientific Management ignored social and psychological factors.” Comment.
(2007)
Answer : The Scientific Management Theory (SMT) by Taylor gave a new impetus to the administrative studies but with passage of time, it came under criticism by Human Relation Movement.
The Scientific Management Theory over-emphasised upon science and scientific methods to aply upon organisation. In this course, he over-simplified the human being and rather gave it a mechanistic view. Here, he totally ignored the socio-psychological variables of human personality. He totally simplified the human motivation in terms of ....
Question : “The main problem with Mary Parker Follett’s is that her idealism is showing”. Explain.
(2006)
Answer : Mary Parker Follet is regarded as a bridge between the classical approach and behavioural human relations approach. She also viewed organization as a social system and highlighted the sociological and psychological dimensions of administration and management. But despite all these, her work shows stress on the idealism which was main problem with her.
She said there is conflicts in every organization and its inevitable but even this conflict can be used as a constructive input if ....
Question : “Simon’s work has had major implications for the study of public administration and the practice of public administration professionalism.” Comment.
(2006)
Answer : Simon is regarded as the most important thinker who used system’s theory for presenting his path breaking ideas whether its his criticism of classical thinkers or his emphasis on making an efficient, value free administrative science, he always provided a deep insight in to all these concepts. But his most important theory ‘The Decision Making Theory’ has remained one of the much-talked theory in today’s administrative world.
Simon followed system theory. He criticized the classical thinkers ....
Question : “Critically examine the classical science of administration with special reference to its criticism by Dwight Waldo and Robert Dahl.”
(2006)
Answer : The classical science of administration is at the centre-stage in evolution of the Public Administration. The excessive research done by the theorist like F. W. Taylor, Henry Fayol, Gullick, Urwik, Max Weber gave the very base to the field of public administration on which in later years public administration developed. But the classical science suffers from many flaws like their value neutral mechanistic approach etc.
The classical scientist mainly concentrated on increasing efficiency and completely ignored ....
Question : “No science of public administration is possible unless there is a body of comparative studies from which it may be possible to discover principle and generalities that transcend national boundaries and peculiar historical experiences”. Discuss.
(2005)
Answer : The case of public administration being a science has been stated in three ways varying in the degree of the claim made. On the lowest plane, it has been said that though at the present state of its development, public administration may not merit the name of a science in due course it may become one. What it presents to us at present is a framework of connected ideas about public administration which provides a ....
Question : “The failure of classical science of administration it its capacity to confront theory with evidence”. Discuss.
(2005)
Answer : The classical science of administration is also known is “formal organization theory” or“traditional theory” or the “structural theory”. This theory of administration was developed during the years between the first and second World Wars. The most important concern of the classical theory is the formulation of certain universal principles of organisation.
The classical administrative science’s most critical failure is its incapacity to “confront theory with evidence”. The principles tend to dissolve when put to test; partly ....
Question : In Follett’s view, “authority belongs to the job and stays with the job”. Explain.
(2005)
Answer : Follett defines authority as vested power – the right to develop and exercise power. Authority in terms of status and the subordination of one to another offends human dignity and may cause undesirable reactions and friction.
Therefore it cannot be the basis of organisation. According to her, authority stems from the task being performed and from the situation and suggests that function is the true basis from which authority is derived.
Therefore she says that central ....
Question : Weber’s ideas of impersonal detachment and espirit de corps are incompatible. Explain.
(2004)
Answer : Weber’s idea of bureaucracy was an ideal type. According to him if the workers are impersonal in their outlook then only they can be rational, because rationality was the central concern in his ideal type of organisation which he called bureaucracy.
Impersonality means that a bureaucratic from of organization does not entertain irrational sentiments. These are devoid of human emotions and values. Only than it can work rationally because these sentiments drive him towards the faulty ....
Question : “Bureaucracy can exist only where the whole service of the state is removed from the common political life of the people, its chiefs as well as rank and file. Its motives, its objectives, its policy, its standards must be bureaucratic.” —Discuss.
(2004)
Answer : Bureaucracy is regarding much closer to a closed system where there is not much interference with the outside environment. Bureaucracy as an institution is thought to be having its own unique way of functioning, which is isolated from the political life of the people. Bureaucracy has its own motives, objectives and policy for service delivery. It is not pressurized or influenced by public opinions.
Some of the characteristics of bureaucracy has been the rules, neutrality, impersonality ....
Question : “Weberian model of bureaucracy lacks empirical validity when applied to modern democratic administration”. Examine.
(2003)
Answer : Although Max Weber revolutionized the field of administration by giving his famous concept of ‘bureaucracy’ but his insistence on making it an ideal type for administration was not at par with the modern administrative set up, which needs flexibility.
Weber gave the concept of hierarchy, rules of law, impersonal order, written documents sphere of competence, neutrality etc. But if these concepts are to be examined in modern day scenario, they do not seen to be empirically ....
Question : Explain the contribution of George Elton Mayo to the development of the Human Relation School. How did behavioural scientists modify his basic findings?
(2002)
Answer : Human relation theory unlike other theories is different theory, which believes that human problems need human solution. These problems should be first be understood and then solution thought of, which can be based on human data and human tools. It stresses on human motivations and informal group functioning. It rejects formal institutionalization. Multi-dimensional nature of man is of utmost importance for studying all organizational problems.
Human Relation theory is based on Hawthorne Experiments, which were carried ....
Question : Critically examine the models of Max Weber and Chester I Barnard with reference to “bureaucratic authority”.
(2001)
Answer : Authority, in the process of administration, may be defined as the legitimate right to give orders and get those orders obeyed. Then, exercise of authority involves superior – subordinate relationship and refers to positional authority.
The classical theory holds that authority involves in managerial position is achieved by delegation from higher position. Flow of this authority is known as top-down authority. Each manager in the organization has specific set of authority delegated to him and built ....
Question : The ‘decision-making’ scheme and ‘satisfying model’ of Herbert Simon is the major component of administrative theory. Comment.
(2001)
Answer : Herbert A. Simon is the foremost theorist of decision. He defined decision-making as “the optimum national choice between alternative causes of action.
According to Simon, decision-making pervades the entire orgnisation, that is, decisions are made at all levels of the organization. Hence he viewed an organization as a structure of decision-makers. He equated administration with decision-making as every aspect of administration revolves around decision-making.
Simon was very critical of the classical approach and its advocacy of principles ....
Question : A fairly adequate analysis of the Administrative organization in Government is possible when we treat ‘bureaucracy’ as a ‘structure’ and ‘administration’ as a ‘function’. Discuss.
(2001)
Answer : The meaning of term ‘bureaucracy’ which is given by Weber is that, “it is an administrative body of appointed officials. So, bureaucracy is collective form of appointed officials and not elected. For example we have appointed Secretaries and Chief Sec retaries in various governmental organizations.
Government nowadays takes up many welfare and construction work, for which there are various governmental organizational units involved in many welfare activities and various other departments and officer operates under government ....
Question : “Administrative efficiency is enhanced by keeping at a minimum the number of organizational levels through which a matter must pass before it is acted upon”. – (Herbert A. Simon)
(2000)
Answer : Administrative structure of public or private space is based on hierarchy. The hierarchy is nothing but various levels of organization. In organization there is top level i.e., executive, then there is middle level management i.e., manager and third level is supervisor at lower level. Now decisions taken at top level are transmitted to lower level for implementation of decisions.
If organizational levels are very tall that will cause unnecessary delay, and there arises a communication ....
Question : ….. “a more through consideration leads to the understanding that communication, authority, specialization and purpose are all aspects comprehended in coordinatioin” – (Chester I. Barnard).
(2000)
Answer : C.I. Barnard views an organization as a social system in which the communication, authority, specialization and purpose provides essential components for its proper working. But when he talks about coordination it seems all these four concepts have been engulfed in a single notion.
Communication according to him depends upon the character of authority and vice-versa. A communication is of no use if it is not properly understood by subordinates. Coordination between employees largely depends on communication. ....
Question : “ Information constitutes the life-blood of the functioning of organization”, in the light of this statement, explain the utility and importance of communication in decision-making.
(2000)
Answer : Communication is an important principle of organization and is essential for realising its objectives. Millet describes, “Communication as the blood stream of an administrative-organisation”.
Communication can be defined as the “process of passing information and understanding from one person to another”.
Communication has come to be recognized as the first principle of administration. This is an age of communication. The average man today, is much closer to his government and his neighbours; he identifies himself more with ....
Question : “The principle of bureaucratic neutrality is more superfluous and redundant in the context of developing countries”. Comment.
(1999)
Answer : Weber’s theory suggests that the bureaucracy is a neutral instrument which can be used by anyone who comes to gain control over it. However, experience has shown that the bureaucracy tends to function in the interest of ruling classes. The political, economic and social conditions of developing countries are not stable enough to bureaucracy neutrally so that fruits of this can be distributed to each part of society equitably. The politico-economic power tends to accumulate ....
Question : Why is it that the behavioural approach to the study of organizations is a continuous phenomenon? Discuss Chester Barnard’s contribution to this approach.
(1998)
Answer : The behavioural approach to the study of organization covers a method of examining public administration by studying individual and collective human behaviour in administrative situations. It brings to bear upon administrative problems an inter-disciplinary approach which includes sociology, individual and social psychology and cultural anthropology. This approach is different from traditional approach.
The behaviour approach is an improved and more mature version of human relations approach. It is mainly concerned with scientific study of human behaviour ....
Question : "Consensus’ and ‘Unanimity’ used as styles in decision-making.”
(1998)
Answer : Decision-making is a rational process whereby decision maker seeks out and chooses the course of action that is most likely to maximize the attainment of the goals and objectives. Sometimes a group is entrusted with taking a decision. There are relative advantages and disadvantages of group decision-making in terms of the quality of the decision arrived at, the creativity of those decisions and the degree of decisions among those who must implement them.
It is generally ....
Question : “Examine the basic postulates of the Human Relations theory and show how far it differs from the classical theory of organisations.
(1997)
Answer : The Human Relations theory or the neo-classical theory was built on the base of the classical theory, modifying it, adding to it and extending it. The Human Relation school of Administration was led by such eminent scholars as Elton Mayo, Dickson and others. Mayo and his colleagues conducted many experiments with human behaviour in organizations at the Hawthorne works of Western Electric Company in Chicago and found that output for workers was dependent not only ....
Question : “Once fully established, bureaucracy is among those social structures which are the hardest to destroy”.
(1997)
Answer : Max Weber regarded bureaucracy as a universal social phenomenon and the means of carrying “community action” over into rationally ordered “social action”. Bureaucracy means “desk government” or management by bureaus denoting the sum total of the personal apparatus and procedures by which an organization manages its work and accomplishes its purposes.
Bureaucracy developed in the eighteenth and 19th centuries. It attained new heights in the 20th century despite the triumphs in several states of Marxist ideology, ....
Question : Show how Barnard while analyzing the multiplicity of satisfactions, clearly identifies four specific inducements.
(1996)
Answer : Barnard defined organization ‘as a system of consciously coordinated activities of two or more persons.’ Here he emphasizes on system of interactions. It is a system composed of the activities of human beings, a system in which the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts and each part is related to every other part in some significant way.
According to Barnard an individual is never willing to contribute his activities to a particular ....
Question : “Bureaucracy is a system of government, the control of which is so completely in the hands of officials that their power jeopardizes the liberties of ordinary citizens.” Comment.
(1996)
Answer : “Bureaucracy” is the term used to describe the administration in government characterized by red tape, rigidity and insensitivity. Historically, bureaucracy is a social invention perfected during the industrial revolution.
Weber considered the bureaucratic form of organization as the best method of organization for any social group, which has to coordinate the work of numerous persons whether in the public or private dominion. It is an impersonal routinised structure wherein legitimized authority rests in the office and ....
Question : “The study of decision-making is proceeding in so many directions that we can lose sight of the basic administrative processes that Barnard and Simon were trying to describe and that so many men have been trying to improve.” Elucidate.
(1995)
Answer : The decision-making is one of the most vital activity of the organization which determines the direction of progress of that organization. Most of the organization give it the highest priority in their functioning and this emphasis on decision making is not a wasteful activity. The researches on decision making have been going on right from the time when Public Administration itself was in the evolution stage. The first comprehensive analysis of the decision making process ....
