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Organizations in action - Assignment

5 important questions on Organizations in action - Assignment

When reflecting on the design approach of Thompson, what are the variables in this theory?

The variables derived by Thompson are degree of predictability and decree of adaptability. In which he discusses that organizations should try to achieve a balance between predictability and adaptability in order to create a fit with the degree of heterogeneity in the environment.

Predictability is defined as focus on internal functions.
Adaptability is defined as flexible systems.

What are the structure related parameters in Thompson's theory?

1. Degree to which reciprocal activities are grouped at the lowest level in the organization (team level).
2. Degree to which sequential activities are grouped into a meso level
3. Degree to which pooled dependent activities are grouped into departments.
4. Degree to which activities on an organizational level are grouped in relation to parts of the more heterogeneous task environment. Organizational + level.

Coordination is debatable whether this is structure related or not. The control structure is a weak part of Thompson, since this is not explicit / well-defined.

What is the relationship between the parameters and variables?

Through a combination of two systems (open and close), Thompson first strives for minimizing uncertainty, and then to build a structure to achieve a combination to achieve predictability and adaptability simultaneously.

When reflecting the pragmatic validity of Thompson's theory, how is this represented?

- way of writing is propositional. However, for practicioners it is not clear and the boundaries are not clear either.
- Visual: no
- Narrative: he gives some examples, but this is not the main explanation.

What are the two benefits and two drawbacks of Thompson's theory?

Benefits:
1. Dealing with the environment by making it more predictable.
2. Dealing with inside technical core: he gives ideas about how to deal with the outside world in your technical core.

Drawbacks:
1. Driven by costs
2. No focus on quality of work

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Organisational design

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