Organizational Theory and Communication Processes
Organizational Theory: Key Figures and Concepts
Taylor: Scientific Management
Taylor advocated for scientific organization of work, separating mental and physical labor. His work study involved three steps:
- Choose the best method of work.
- Study labor movements and elementary time.
- Determine standard working hours.
Taylor’s principles also included:
- Scientific selection of workers based on talent.
- Incentive systems to motivate workers.
Critique: Taylorism was criticized for potentially deskilling workers, reducing them to following instructions without critical thinking.
Ford: Assembly Line Production
Ford introduced the assembly line, emphasizing division of labor and full dedication. He organized the work of humans and machines to optimize product assembly. Key principles included:
- Reducing manufacturing time.
- Increasing production and reducing sales prices.
- Paying employees higher wages than competitors.
- Saving control positions.
Fayol: The Father of Modern Management
Fayol shifted focus from production to the creation and coordination of departments. He emphasized the importance of placing qualified individuals in charge of each organizational section.
Weber: Bureaucratic Principles
Weber described bureaucracy as an organizational structure characterized by regular procedures, division of responsibility, hierarchy, and impersonal relationships. Bureaucracy, according to Weber, does not necessarily imply inefficiency or slow administration.
Ouchi: The Pursuit of Quality and Teamwork
Ouchi highlighted the importance of involving workers in the company to achieve higher quality production. He observed that Japanese companies, which focused on teamwork and motivation, were outperforming American companies that emphasized technology-driven production processes.
Elements of the Communication Process
- Sender (Issuer): The person initiating the communication, encoding and creating the message.
- Receiver: The person who listens, accepts, and receives the message from the sender.
- Message: The content of the communication, which must be understood by the receiver.
- Channel: The medium through which the message is communicated (e.g., words, gestures, movements).
- Feedback: The receiver’s response to the sender’s message, indicating whether it was understood.
Stages in the Communication Process
- Encoding: Using a system of signs and rules to create an understandable message (e.g., sounds, flags).
- Issuing: Transforming thoughts into spoken or written words.
- Transmission: The method of disclosing ideas and thoughts. It can be unidirectional (one-way) or bidirectional (two-way) when there is mutual communication.
- Reception: The receiver hears the message. Difficulties may arise due to physiological defects, etc.
- Decoding: The receiver interprets the message, requiring knowledge of the transmission code and context.
- Feedback: Allows the sender to know if the receiver has received the message through a response (oral, written, or gestural).
Types of Communication
- By Transmission Form: Verbal or Non-Verbal.
- By Formality: Formal and Informal.
- By Business Relationship:
- Internal:
- Downward: From a superior to a subordinate (e.g., giving an order).
- Upward: From a subordinate to a superior (e.g., transmitting complaints).
- Horizontal: Between people of the same category.
- External: Communication with individuals or entities outside the company (e.g., customers).
- Internal:
Oral Communication: Used for interacting with people around us.
Written Communication: Used for formal matters where a record is needed (e.g., invoices, contracts).
Formal Communication: Occurs within the company’s organizational structure and follows specific rules or standards.
Informal Communication: Unstructured communication, often resulting in rumors within the company.