7. Leadership and Organizational Management Flashcards
State your understanding of Chris Argyri ‘s common classical organization concept.
Argyris suggests that classical management concepts were designed for unskilled workers and heavily controlled by upper management, which may not be effective for skilled workers like engineers who require more autonomy and empowerment.
What is your understanding of the following schools of management thought: (a) management process school, (b) behavioral school and (c) mathematical school
- Management Process School: Focuses on management as a process that involves planning, organizing, staffing, leading, communicating, and controlling.
- Behavioral School: Emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior in the workplace to improve employee motivation and productivity.
- Mathematical School: Utilizes mathematical and statistical methods to solve management problems, optimizing organizational systems for maximum productivity.
What is your understanding of: (a) McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y, (b)Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs and (c) Herzberg’s Motivator- Hygine Concept?
- McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y: Theory X assumes workers are inherently lazy and need to be closely supervised, while Theory Y suggests workers are self-motivated and seek responsibility.
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Proposes that people are motivated by a hierarchy of needs, starting from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.
- Herzberg’s Motivator-Hygiene Concept: Identifies factors that cause job satisfaction (motivators) and dissatisfaction (hygiene factors), emphasizing the importance of addressing both for effective motivation.
Explain McCelland’s achievement-affiliation concepts dealing with need to achieve.
Focuses on the need to achieve (nAchieve) and the need to affiliate (nAffiliate), suggesting that individuals and organizations can be characterized by these needs. High-producing organizations often have a balance of both, but with a focus on achievement.
What is your understanding of: (a) high-producing organization, (b) low-producing organization and (c) high-producing managers?
- High-Producing Organization: Characterized by mutual trust, a sense of responsibility at all levels, and effective harnessing of motivational concepts, leading to a tightly knit social system and high job satisfaction.
- Low-Producing Organization: Typically managed through traditional, authoritative methods focusing on control, leading to mistrust, competitive hostility, and dissatisfaction.
- High-Producing Managers: Supportive, trust in subordinates’ abilities, have high expectations, and assist employees, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
What is your understanding of the concept of systems thinking and in particular the disciplines proposed by Senge.
Systems thinking involves understanding that organizations are composed of interlinked systems that must be managed as a whole. Senge’s disciplines include personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking itself, aiming to create a learning organization capable of continuous improvement and adaptation.
Explain the role of a mediator in conflict resolution.
Acts as a neutral party to facilitate communication and negotiation between conflicting parties, helping them to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
Describe the traditional and non-traditional methods employers use to recruit new employees.
Traditional methods include job postings, employee referrals, and recruitment agencies. Non-traditional methods can involve social media recruiting, talent scouting, and hosting or participating in job fairs and networking events.
