Management

A detailed Summary of Management

Various theories in management take the view that organisations are in a constant struggle with the environment. This essay will examine three theories in seeking to determine whether this widely held view is demonstrated in these theories. It will examine population ecology theory, systems theory, and contingency theory, firstly defining what each is and then second relating the various theories to the environment.

Population ecology takes the view that the environment is dominant, and organisations are in a constant struggle with it. Population ecology builds on Darwin's theory that allows for the variation, selection, retention, and modification of species of organisations. This theory assumes the environment is determining, environmental resources are limited, and competition is inevitable. Charles Darwin's nineteenth century writings have become synonomous with this theory. His writings emphasise the survival of the fittest and the demise of the weaker, with races getting stronger and leaving their weaker elements behind. Because of the fact that resources are 'non-renewable', organisations remain in constant state of struggle both with the environment and with other organisations. Survival is assumed to be the main, all-i

System theory also seeks to analyse an organisation in terms of its internal subsystems. Individuals belong to small departments that belong to larger organisational divisions. The final aspect seeks to focus on alignments between subsystems and solve possible dysfunctions. Collectively, these aspects of systems theory allow organisations to organise in ways that meet the requirements of the environment.

mportant organisation goal. This ignores the fact that certain organisations, such as ASH or the Red Cross, would in fact like to die if they were able to. Thus under this theory the environment is the '... critical indicator in determining which organisations succeed and which fail, selecting the most robust competitors through elimination of the weaker ones. (Morgan, 1986). Because of the critical assumption that the environment is determining, population ecology has been described at too deterministic, one sided, and not applicable to certain organisations. However, it still is an important theory in organisation theory that demonstrates how organisations are in conflict and struggle with the environment.

Systems theory builds on the principle that organisations, like organisms, are open to the environment, and must seek to build an appropriate relationship with the environment if they are to survive. Early systems theory developed as a biological metaphor in disguise. The open-systems approach places emphasis on environment in which organisations exist. It suggests organ

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Red Cross, , Charles Darwin's, population ecology, struggle environment, systems theory, contingency theory, constant struggle, constant struggle environment, struggles environment, appropriate form, organisations struggle environment, environment organisations, simple structure, environment population, organisations constant struggle, environment population ecology,

Approximate Word count = 1005
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous