organizational analyses 2500 Problem Solving Case Study and Proposal Report
Organisational Analysis
Reframing Organisations
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Lecture Aims
Understand the limitations of functional analysis
Understand that functional analysis belongs to a particular tradition of thinking
Understand other frames for analysing organisations
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Recap – Map of the Course
Organisations as Functionality
Organisations as Systems of Rationality
Analysing Organisational Maturity
Organisations as Data Information and Knowledge
Reframing Organisations – Interpretivism and Discourse
Organisational Analysis
Critical Reflection
Organisations as Power, Conflict and Coalition
Organisations and Environment
Organisations and Social Accounting
Analysing and Codifying Knowledge
Knowledge and the Learning Organisation
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Organisational Analysis
Collection and analysis of data?
Hypothesis testing?
Socially negotiated?
How is knowledge (or truth) about organisations derived, and how is knowledge (truth) defended?
Discovering Organisational “Truths”
The models we discussed earlier are representations or end points of organisational truths.
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Process of Organisational Analysis
Process of Organisational Analysis is seldom discussed….nor documented.
What leads to the acceptance that the representations of organisations, as found in the models is correct?
Analysis
Business models as the “product” or output
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The coverage of the previous 5 lectures make a number of assumptions
The organisation as a concept is well defined
The organisation has a well formed boundary
The role of management is to create a well ordered, controlled and stable working environment
The internal environment is protected from the external environment
Organisational Truth Assumptions
Organisation
Environment
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Example of Organisational Truth Assumption
Is knowledge objective or subjective?
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Example of Context
Did you all produce the same functional and data model for your assignment?
Surely, if you take an objectivist view, all of you should produce the same solutions?
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Functionalist Approaches
Functionalist approaches are the instruments used to discover the ‘truths’ that govern organisations.
Models, representing ‘Truths’ possess instrumental value (practical utility).
‘Truths’ as represented by the functional and data models are seen as objective and accurate accounts of organisational properties (e.g. causal powers and laws) and the events with which management act.
Through ‘truth’ ‘we’ avoid being distracted by speculation, hunches and lies of ‘others’.
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Functionalist Approaches
By knowing the ‘truth’ managers can intelligently formulate strategies and accomplish organisational goals
The instrumental and objective value of ‘truths’ for management is in establishing control over an organisation, predict outcomes and to learn strengths and vulnerabilities
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Organisational functionality, data are all seen as being accurate accounts
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Viewing Organisations as Systems of Rationality
Systems of Rationality – in some literature described as “modernism”
Ontology: objectivism-there is an objective reality independent of our knowledge of it. Organisations are ‘real’ entities that lend themselves to our senses.
Epistemology: positivism—truth is ‘discovered’ through conceptualisation/theorisation and ‘testing’ our logic against the reality found in the objective world.
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Truth is objective and independent of our knowing
Even if we are not there, the truth exists
Through positivist epistemology, we discover the same version of truth
All of us have equal access to the truth
Depiction of Functionalist Framing of Organisations
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Analysing Organisations – Multiple Frames
In the practice of management, we need to understand there are different theoretical “frames”
These “frames” are classified as:
Modernist
Critical Theorist
Symbolic interpretive
Postmodernist
Each frame or perspective has individual ontological and epistemological foundations
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Brief Description of Ontology
Ontology
analytical beginning
knowledge assumption
knowledge defence
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Brief Description of Epistemology
Epistemology – what is considered to be a “valid” processes of discovery
Scientific? Instrumental? Functional?
Self-reflexive questioning?
Social interactions?
Reading? Narrative study?
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Different Knowledge Ontologies
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Consequences for Work and Organisations
What are the consequences of taking different ontological positions?
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First, the Australian social and political context
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"All up today, there is about 6000 Victorians going to lose their jobs because Toyota is shutting down," the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union's Dave Smith told reporters.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus said the car industry was a crucial part of the Australia's advanced manufacturing industry and Toyota workers were "betrayed" by the federal government's failure to value the sector.
The Australian Context
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Bill Shorten says the loss of the auto industry "did not have to happen", but the move was forced when the government stopped financially supporting vehicle markers.
The Government has a role and should sustain the car manufacturing industry (workers)
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Malcolm Turnbull says car manufacturers were leaving in response to changing markets, not a lack of subsidies, valued at about $7 billion since 2001.
The Government is Not Responsible: The Car Industry has Not Responded to Competition
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Secondly, the Singapore social and political context
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“Hundreds of IBM Singapore employees are being laid off, amid the technology giant's global restructuring efforts. The firm is cutting manpower from its Singapore Technology Park, a manufacturing plant at Tampines, as it is relocating manufacturing of its Power Systems product to a facility in Guadalajara, Mexico.”
“The tech giant reported better-than-expected second quarter earnings on Wednesday (July 18), with overall revenue rising by 4 per cent to US$20 billion (S$27.3 billion) — its third straight quarterly increase after nearly six years of decline.”
Taken from: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ibm-singapore-lays-workers-its-tampines-plant
The Context
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“In a Facebook post, Labour MP and National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay said retrenchment figures are expected to inch up in the next quarter due to disruption and reorganisation of businesses,and amid uncertainties caused by trade sanctions imposed by the United States.”
“Structural challenges such as skills and jobs mismatches continue to be one of the main causes of unemployment in Singapore, he added, stressing the need for workers and employers to remain agile and adaptable.”
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Critical Discussion
Critically discuss with your tutor, the differences between the Australian and Singapore narratives
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References
Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1991). The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge (No. 10). Penguin UK.
Hatch, M. J., & Cunliffe, A. L. (2012). Organization theory: modern, symbolic and postmodern perspectives. Oxford university press.
Taylor, B. C. (2005). Postmodern theory. Engaging organizational communication theory and research: Multiple perspectives, 113-140.
Wood-Harper T. (1996). Deconstruction contexts in interpreting methodology. Journal of Information Technology,11(1), 59-70.
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