Assignment

Concepts you should know:

a. Organisational Structure

b. Physical structure of organisations

c. Bureaucracy

d. Organic versus Mechanistic organisational structures

e. Symbolic conditioning

f. Routine and improvisation

g. Institutional logics

h. Communities of practice

Discussion questions:

a. How much does the organisational structure and physical structure of an organisation condition the behaviour of organisational members? Compare modernist, symbolic-interpretive and postmodern approaches.

b. How does organisational structure and physical structure relate to issues of power, control and resistance?

c. Physical structure is intimately linked to organisational identity and culture. Discuss.

d. According to modernist views, how might organisational structure & physical structure determine organisational efficiencies?

e. According to symbolic-interpretivist perspectives, ‘institutional logics' and ‘communities of practice' impact on how learning occurs and knowledge is disseminated within organisations. Discuss.