HCM 433 MANGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR.pdf

The open systems approach provides a Series of activities, Transformation or conversion process,
Interrelated sub-systems, Task Technology Management Structure, People, perspective in which
to compare and contrast different types of organisations and theirmethods of operation.
4. Situational Organisation
The analysis of organisational effectiveness requires an understanding of relationships within the
organisation’s structure, the interrelated sub-systems and the nature of its external environment.
Irrespective of the identification of sub-systems, the nature and scale of the series of activities
involved in converting inputs to outputs will differ from one organisation to another in terms of
the interrelationships between technology, structure, methods of operation, and the nature of
environmental influences. Contingency models of organisation highlight these interrelationships
and provide a further possible means of differentiation between alternative forms of organisation
and management.
The contingency approach takes the view that there is no one best, universal form of organisation.
There are a large number of variables, or situational factors, that influence organisational
performance. Contingency models can be seen as an ‘if-then’ form of relationship. If certain
situational factors exist, then certain organisational and managerial variables are most appropriate.
Managers can utilise these models to compare the structure and functioning of their own
organisation (Mullins, 2000).
3.7 INFLUENCE OF TECHNOLOGY ON ORGANIZATION
According to Mullins (2000), the systems and contingency approaches have drawn attention to the
importance of technology in the structure, management and functioning of work organisations. It
is important to note that the meaning of technology is interpretedbroadly to include both:
•the physical aspects of machines, equipment, processes and work layout (machine
technology) involved in the transformation or conversion process; and
•the actual methods, systems and procedures involved (knowledge technology) in carrying out the
work of the organisation and transforming or converting inputs into outputs.
There is a close interrelationship between the machine side of technology and the specialist
knowledge side of technology. The nature of technology can, therefore, be applied to the analysis
of all organisations.
176