Please do not include the questions in the paper, the paper should only include the answering of the 3 questions.
Organizational Structure and Culture
Technology
Technology describes the way an organization transfers inputs into outputs. Every organization has at least one technology for converting financial, human, and physical resources into products or services. Ford Motor Company uses an assembly-line process to make its products. Colleges may use a number of in- structional technologies—the ever-popular lecture method, case analysis, the experiential exercise, programmed learning, and online instruction and dis- tance learning. Regardless, organizational structures adapt to their technology.
Numerous studies have examined the technology–structure relationship.32 What differentiates technologies is their degree of routineness. Routine activities are characterized by automated and standardized operations. Examples are injection-mold production of plastic knobs, automated transaction processing of sales transactions, and the printing and binding of this book. Nonroutine activities are customized and require frequent revision and updating. They include furniture restoring, custom shoemaking, genetic research, and the writing and editing of this book. In general, organizations engaged in nonrou- tine activities tend to prefer organic structures, while those performing routine activities prefer mechanistic structures.
Implication Papers:
These papers will be based on the material from the chapter(s) we are covering that week. I want you to consider what “implications” the concepts in the assigned chapter have for you and to apply these concepts to your personal or work experiences.
Your paper should be based upon the material that is contained in the chapter, but should go beyond ‘well, isn’t that interesting’; it should imply something to you. Although there are multiple theories/concepts covered in a chapter, I am only asking you to pick one or two of these concepts to write the paper on. It doesn’t matter which concept(s) you choose.
Please write approximately 1 single-spaced page using the following outline:
1. In your own words, briefly explain in a few sentences or a paragraph the one or two basic concept(s) from the textbook that relate to your experience and the implications that you will discuss in the paper.
2. Describe the real-life example(s) of how you have personally experienced the effects of this OB concept and/or how have you observed the effects when interacting with other people. Please be clear of which concept(s) you are illustrating.
3. Explain how the concept(s) applies to you (e.g. about the kind of organization you wish to join, about the skills you need to develop, about how this issue affect you and your generation, etc.). Of special interest is your insight/analysis of the experience/issue. This could include what you have learned and any advice you might have in dealing with these types of situations in the future.
