week 10

Week 10

Week 10 - Overview & Learning Objectives

Attached Files:

·  Chapter 10. Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline.pptx  Chapter 10. Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline.pptx - Alternative Formats (447.825 KB)

Assigned Readings:

Chapter 10. Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline.

Overview:

Chapter 10 explores the question of large versus small organizations and how size relates to structure and control. Organization size is a major contingency that influences organization design and functioning, just as technology, environment, and goals do. The first section looks at the advantages of large versus small size. Then, the organization’s life cycle is considered and the structural characteristics at each stage. Next, the chapter examines the need for bureaucracy to control large organizations and compares bureaucratic control to other control strategies. Finally, the chapter looks at the causes of organizational decline. It should become clear when bureaucratic control can make an organization effective and when other types of control are more appropriate.

Chapter 10. Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline

Learning Objectives

After reading this chapter you should be able to:

1. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of large organization size.

2. Describe how an organization progresses through four stages of the organizational life cycle.

3. Define the characteristics of bureaucracy.

4. Compare large organizations and small organizations along the dimensions of formalization, centralization, and personnel ratios.

5. Identify approaches to reducing bureaucracy in large organizations.

6. Contrast market and clan control with bureaucratic control.

7. Describe the model of decline stages.

Reflection and Discussion Forum Week 10

Assigned Readings:

Chapter 10. Organization Size, Life Cycle, and Decline.

Initial Postings:  Read and reflect on the assigned readings for the week. Then post what you thought was the most important concept(s), method(s), term(s), and/or any other thing that you felt was worthy of your understanding in each assigned textbook chapter.Your initial post should be based upon the assigned reading for the week, so the textbook should be a source listed in your reference section and cited within the body of the text. Other sources are not required but feel free to use them if they aid in your discussion.

Also, provide a graduate-level response to each of the following questions:

1. Look through several recent issues of a business magazine such as Fortune, BusinessWeek, or Fast Company and find examples of two companies that are using approaches to busting bureaucracy. Discuss the techniques these companies are applying.

[Your post must be substantive and demonstrate insight gained from the course material. Postings must be in the student's own words - do not provide quotes!]

 [Your initial post should be at least 450+ words and in APA format (including Times New Roman with font size 12 and double spaced). Post the actual body of your paper in the discussion thread then attach a Word version of the paper for APA review]

Submitting the Initial Posting: Your initial posting should be completed by Thursday, 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Response to Other Student Postings :  Respond substantively to the post of at least two peers, by Friday, 11:59 p.m. EST. A peer response such as “I agree with her,” or “I liked what he said about that” or similar comments are not considered substantive and will not be counted for course credit.

[Continue the discussion through Sunday,11:59 p.m. EST by highlighting differences between your postings and your colleagues' postings. Provide additional insights or alternative perspectives]

Evaluation of posts and responses:  Your initial posts and peer responses will be evaluated on the basis of the kind of critical thinking and engagement displayed. The grading rubric evaluates the content based on seven areas:

Content Knowledge & Structure, Critical Thinking, Clarity & Effective Communication, Integration of Knowledge & Articles, Presentation, Writing Mechanics, and Response to Other Students.

Activity 10

Apply the concept of life cycle to an organization with which you are familiar, such as a local business. What stage is the organization in now? How did the organization handle or pass through its life cycle crises?

The assignment is to answer the question provided above in essay form. This is to be in narrative form and should be as thorough as possible. Bullet points should not to be used. The paper should be at least 1.5 - 2 pages in length, Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins and utilizing at least one outside scholarly or professional source related to competitive strategy. The textbook should also be utilized. Do not insert excess line spacing. APA formatting and citation should be used.