From Dictionary of Economics An assumption on the behavior of the firm. The assumption views the firm as a union of diverse subgroups and individuals with goals and objectives that frequently conflict with each other.
Organization whose structure and operations are governed to a high degree by written rules and a hierarchy of offices; in its broadest sense, all forms of administration, and in its narrowest, rule by officials.
From Business: The Ultimate Resource In management, a situation of unpredictability and rapid change. Chaos theory emerged in the 1970s as a mathematical concept that defied the theory of cause and effect to assert that behavior is essentially random.
From Collins Dictionary of Business An approach to organizational analysis which emphasizes that the character and structure of organizations can take a number of forms, and may be related to the technology in use or the organization's environment. Organizational features can be said to be contingent on such factors.
From Capstone Encyclopaedia of Business The theory of decision making holds that business decisions can best be made in the interests of the organization by eliminating intuition and subjective criteria and employing a system of mathematical techniques for analysing decisionmaking problems.
From Business: The Ultimate Resource The maintenance, control, and improvement of organizational activities that are required to produce goods or services for consumers.
From World of Sociology Scientific Management is a theory of work which sought to make industrial labor more efficient. It was developed by Frederick William Taylor and, therefore, is sometimes referred to as Taylorism.
From The New Penguin Dictionary of Business The totality of management decisions that determine the purpose and direction of the firm. It involves strategic planning and eventually implementation.
From Business: The Ultimate Resource A technique employed for organizational decision making and problem solving involving the use of computer systems. The systems approach uses systems analysis to examine the interdependency, interconnections, and interrelations of a system’s components.
From The New Penguin Dictionary of Business Two contrasting theories of employee motivation. Theory X assumes employees dislike work, will attempt to avoid it, dislike responsibility, have a strong desire for security and must be coerced to perform (a negative view of human motivation).
From Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Psychology A theory (Fiedler 1978) that leadership effects on group performance depend on three ‘contingencies’ (see s. 1) – leader–member relations (good–bad), task (structured–unstructured) and leader’s power (weak–strong) – and their moderating effect on leadership style.
From Capstone Encyclopaedia of Business
Expectancy theory is a motivational theory proposed by Canadian Victor Vroom, professor of management and psychology at Yale University.
From The Concise Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science Intrinsic motivation is a type of motivation based in people’s inherent interest in activities that provide novelty and challenge. Intrinsically motivated behaviors are an expression of an individual’s self and do not depend on external reinforcements.
From The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology Lit., motivation that originates in factors outside the individual. Behaviour that is motivated by rewards and/or punishments administered by outside forces is extrinsically determined.
From Capstone Encyclopaedia of Business Leadership was once about heroes, indomitable individuals fighting against the odds, leading organizations from the front. Then it all changed.
From The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology A point of view in historical investigations which contends that accomplishments in a field are due primarily to the efforts of great men.
From Elsevier's Dictionary of Psychological Theories The term reinforcement contains a considerable amount of diversity of usage in psychology where most of the definitional variations stem from theoretical issues in learning theory concerning what reinforcement is and how it functions.
From The New Penguin Business Dictionary A contingency theory of leadership that focuses on the readiness and maturity of followers. In essence, it says ‘leaders are as good as their followers’.
From Elsevier's Dictionary of Psychological Theories The earliest investigation of leadership that is regarded as uniquely psychological is attributed to the Italian statesman Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) in his 16th century book “The Prince.”
From Business: The Ultimate Resource A theory that describes sets of feelings, thoughts, and behavior or ego states that influence how individuals interact, communicate, and relate with each other.
From Business: The Ultimate Resource The idea that effective leadership is based on inspiring and enthusing subordinates with a corporate vision in order to gain their commitment.