Compare Modernist and Symbolic Interpretive in Different Aspect Essay Example

modernism is deductive approach. Its objective is to govern rules in organization to ensure smooth process and maintain power. Fayol’s administrative principals (span of control, depart mentation, unit of demand, scalar of principals) sets out job for individual in different hierarchy.

The manager’s job is more task-centered rather than people- centered. Power Power is define as, A has power which can get B to do something that B is not willing to do. (Dahl, 1957) There are five types of social powers which are legitimate, coercive, referent, reward and expert power; where legitimate and coercive power are obvious in modernism. According to Weber, the higher the position in hierarchy, the powerful the individual is compared to others. Taylor’s scientific management assumes that managers have power to control work and movement of labors.

The usage of scientific management has resulted in increases of both productivity and economic efficiency. Scientific management can still be seen, where it focuses on the central task of economic efficiency for example Stig Jiangsu Light& Textile Import& Export Company. Modernism also practices managerial control by using the cybernetic model, agency theory and clan control to monitor performance which can improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The Agency theory is a mechanism to ensure that owner’s interest is protected from discretionary management decisions.

This can be achieved by rewarding, control of information, surveillance and contract. However, agency problem might occur when the information given is too little to sustain profitability. The cybernetic control identifies the difference between actual and desired individual and performance in organization. The clan control is to achieve cooperation among organization members by interaction in terms of symbolic

control. Decision making that only involves the executive team is called unity- of- command principle by Fayol.

According to Mintzberg, organization is formed by five main parts which is simple structure, machine bureaucracy, professional bureaucracy, divisionalized form and adhocracy where they all focus on power and standard process. (Mintzberg, 1981) Also, Enlightenment is rooted in modernism where rational knowledge replaces superstition with reason. (Locke, 1788) It is believed that rationality allows people to control environment through scientific knowledge. Enactment is the impact on the world with different things.

For example, Steve Jobs have made the world different with the invention of his Apple product. Institutionalization is where others will also to do the same thing when there is a person who starts the lead; which Coles started to give out discount on petrol, Safeway do the same thing as well. Organizational structure The organizational structure is a framework that a company uses to differentiate authority and roles, and the way information flows. Organizational structure is divided into two forms: mechanistic and organic structures.

Mechanistic structure is used in modernism where there is high degree of differentiation (numbers of levels in hierarchy- vertical and horizontal), centralization (lower levels have to report to top management), standardization (bureaucracy and standard process), formalization (rules), specialization (division of labor to do only specific task) and low integration (low coordination of activities) between functional designs. Modernism has tall organizational structure as it consists of many hierarchical levels.

Mechanistic structure is used in stable companies such as universities and government organizations. According to Adam Smith, division of labor can produce economic efficiency. In the system model, efficiency is

increase by saving time and money as there is no task switching; thus effectiveness is seen in the increased production. Contingency theory claims that there is no single best way to design organizational structures, as it depends on internal and external situation of the company. (Burns& Stalker, 1964).

For example, if Kodak is responsive to the customers’ wants and changing technologies, they will generate a more organic system. Physical structures influence information flow, integration and relationship in an organization. Base on Hawthorne Studies changes in physical organization such as layout and lighting affects worker productivity, especially when labors are being monitored. Coles used to incur loss and one of the reasons is because of the closed physical structure that clearly defines the power of each person.

Technology such is used for surveillance purposes. Symbolic interpretive Symbolic interpretative (SI) is based on personal interpretation in accordance to time and place. The ontology of SI is subjectivism which means people believe what exist, whereas its epistemology is interpretivism which based on own opinion. The model of reasoning is inductive. Max Weber studies how ‘ideas’ and ‘values’ influence organizational behavior. The social world kept being re-structured by our interpretations, others action and the symbols that conditioned us.

Intersubjectivity means interpretation of an individual of shared experience and meaning. Organization structure In SI, integration is encouraged and shared values are important. Coles turns from modernist to SI when the managing director uses his power to change the physical layout that changes the communication style. Physical structure is based on cultural artifacts that are given meaning by us. The concept of self-management through team- up activity that

forms the community of practice where integration is focused is used in IBM Global Services. Culture

Organization culture consists of the basic assumptions, beliefs and shared values that make an individual a part of it, which organizational member have similar behavior in presenting themselve. According to Schein, culture can be perceived into three levels which is artifact, values and basic assumption. Artifacts describe visible organization features which are building. On the next level there are norms and values, which are non- visible facets. Values can be discovered by using qualitative questionnaire. The third level consists of values that cannot be observed, such as, underlying beliefs.

There is subculture in organization where several cultures exist within an organization. The members perceive differently and act according to their understandings. For example, Pizza Hut, KFC and Pepsi Coke practices different culture. Organization silo arose within subculture when the different norms and values make coordination between organization members’ difficult (Robbins& Barnwell, 1995) which can be overcome by having a strong culture. Symbolic conditioning is the communicative power of architecture, symbol, culture and regulation which is able to stimulate anticipated emotion.

For example, the clown character is the primary symbol of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. In conclusion, there are differences and similarities in the two perspectives. Power is not often used in SI because it is believed that workers will try to fight back if too much power is used; whereas in modernism power is widely used to control worker and effectiveness. There is also huge difference in the social organization structure as modernism focuses on hierarchy whereas SI focuses on team management.

Surveillance in

modernism makes employee to work harder, whereas open layout in symbolic interpretive encourages interaction and self-surveillance. Both modernism and SI have stressed the importance of physical structure. Although the physical layout is different, they both encourage effectiveness. Although the theory behind culture is different, they both agree that culture is ‘real’ and has impact on performance. Therefore, it is vital to have a good understanding between the difference and similarities of the different perspectives and use the correct theories to strengthen the organization.