...A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DISPARATE SCHOOLS OF MANAGEMENT Scholars in the field of management, from the late 19th century till modern times, have come up with different perspectives on how to manage people and organizations. These gave rise to what is called ‘Management Schools of Thought’. This study looks at the Classical School of Thought in relation to modern day management, as it pertains to the built environment. Though so many years have passed since the Classical School of Thought was developed, it is widely used in modern day management as the preferred choice by many organizations in the built environment. One major area that arose from the Classical School of Thought is productivity and efficiency in the workplace [http://www.cliffnotes.com/study_guide/topicArticleId-8944,articleId-8851.html]. Managers were so much inclined to assign workers to areas that best fitted their expertise. This was in order to increase their productivity and efficiency in their various responsibilities. A facilities services provider, ISS, uses a system that effectively manages its workers and all facets of a worker’s responsibilities by placing the right people in the right positions, based on their qualifications (BOOTY, 2008). This is also evident in Faceo FM UK, according to its Chief Executive, Chris Kenneally. In his words, “Our focus has been on the sustainability of our customers and putting the right people in the right positions to deliver what the client wants, as evidenced...
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...Synopsis This essay attempts to analyze the theories and underlying models with regard of critical thinking. Firstly the essay examines different theories about critical thinking and relevant evaluations and discussions are followed. Then there are paragraphs demonstrate how critical thinking is linked to real problem thinking and why critical thinking is essential to problem solving especially the management practice. Finally a brief conclusion is drawn at the end of the essay. Diverse materials and references are utilized to cross examine the topic of critical thinking under a reasonably large contextual circumstance. As a project manager, it is of great importance to use critical thinking to understand new information, to evaluate and solve problems and to make sound decisions. Making decisions using critical thinking skills in today's world - a world with increasing number of conflicts, pressure and uncertainty is more imminent than ever before. Organizations and businesses today are confronted with multiple challenges including increasing conflicts brought by economic globalization, fast-paced developing technology and growing diversity. All of these highlight the importance of critical thinking in nowadays society. Critical thinking is the process of collecting and evaluating resources in order to make the most appropriate decision. By adopting critical thinking theory and inferred practice, decision makers such as project managers can effectively deal with these challenges...
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...trying to integrate technology into their work processes. Today, technology has become a necessity in a company and it has been viewed often as an improvement in the efficiency of the workplace by companies. However, there has been a number of different views as to how technology will impact the organizations, the management and the employees. Modern and critical perspectives will be taken to provide different insights on how technology is been viewed and understand. Since critical theory perspective is focused on challenging the modern theory perspective, we will be able to have a greater depth of understanding on technology environmental relationships. The modernist theory emphasize on the need for power and control for profit maximization. The critical theory on the other hand, provide a social perspective on how technology has an impact to the workers and the working environment. In this essay, we will take a look at how the development of technology is perceived differently by different factors namely the modernist and critical perspectives. Modernist Theory Modern theory perspective believes in objectivism and that objective truths are vital in the management of an organization (Green & Crother, 2004). Modernist seeks truths that are objective and honest. First and foremost, employing the use of electronic technologies such as surveillance can enlarge the...
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...ABSTRACT Critical Chain Project Management: An Overview Christopher Aitken Director: Elisabeth Umble, Ph.D. The purpose of this thesis is to introduce to the reader Critical Chain Project Management, which is the application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) process to project management. Eli Goldratt describes the process in the book Critical Chain. Applying Critical Chain protocol will improve the projects due date performance and the quality of deliverables, whatever the project or circumstance. To prove these claims this document explores specific case studies of recent implementations of Critical Chain. It then goes back to look at the history of project management and some of the innovations that led to Critical Chain, including an in depth look at Theory of Constraints. It concludes by exploring the TOC approach to causing change in thinking processes and how this would be done for Critical Chain. This document is written to be accessible to any reader regardless of the level of prior exposure to the Theory of Constraints. APPROVED BY DIRECTOR OF HONORS THESIS: ______________________________________________________ Dr. Elisabeth Umble, Department of Management APPROVED BY THE HONORS PROGRAM: __________________________________________________ DATE: _______________________ CRITICAL CHAIN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: AN OVERVIEW A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Baylor University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Honors Program By Christopher...
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...Introduction (pp. 1-9) Our text has twin foci of behaviour and work in the organizational context. It looks at behaviour and work from multiple perspectives: * Functionalist * Managerialist * Interpretive * Critical perspective * Feminist * Radical Other critical perspectives include the postcolonial, the poststructuralist, and the postmodernist. Functionalist Perspective If you want to be a manager, what would you want to know about people, work and organizational behaviour? How to motivate or lead employees? How to manage a team? These are ideas of management as a function. Much of what is known about management, people, and work comes from studies that aim to contribute to the effectiveness of managerial practice, to gain a better understanding of management. Studies of management, or what we sometimes call the mainstream, have examined what managers do, how they control absence, or what are the causes and consequences of stress. Many of these questions are answered in this text. Functionalist theory includes scientific management, leadership theory, management of culture, and many other theories of ‘management.’ This text is not functionalist. The text does not assume congruity of purpose, unproblematic workplaces, or that organizations are unitary wholes characterized by order and consensus. Managerialist Looks at behaviour and work from the exclusive perspective of the manager. ‘Managerialism’ is an ideology which assumes the...
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...Medium-sized Enterprises—An Empirical Survey Werner H. Hoffmann and Roman Schlosser Strategic alliances are increasingly gaining favour over go-it-alone strategies for organisations to achieve fast and economical growth. This study aims to identify critical success factors in alliance-making with special consideration given to the specific situation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A comprehensive questionnaire was used to interview a random sample of key executives in 164 Austrian SMEs. This paper reports on the results of that empirical survey, and seeks to identify the weights of various success factors in alliance-making in SMEs. The results show that “soft” facts such as trust are important for alliance success, but not on their own sufficient. Also “hard” facts such as strategic compatibility and appropriate governance mechanisms have an important influence on alliance success. Careful strategic planning and good partnership preparation are essential for alliance success, but the full value of an alliance has to be developed as it evolves. k 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights c reserved. Introduction Interfirm collaborations, such as strategic alliances and joint ventures,1 have become important business management instruments to improve the competitiveness of companies, especially in complex and turbulent environments.2 Alliances help to bridge the gap between the firm’s present resources and its expected future requirements.3 In this time of globalisation and...
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...The Manager as a Critical Thinker | Individual Paper 1 | 3 | Legal and Ethical Environment of Business: The Manager as an Ethical Decision Maker | Discussion Activity 2 | 3 | Team Work Plan | Team assignment | 4 | Organization Theory and Design | Discussion Activity 3 | 5 | Organization Theory and Design in the Global Environment | Team Project 1Individual Matching Exercise | 6 | Legal Environment: Courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Agency | Discussion Activity 4 | 7 | Critical Thinking in the Legal Environment: Torts and Products Liability | Individual Paper 2 Discussion Activity 5 | 8 | Legal Environment: Contracts and Forms of Business Organizations | Discussion Activity 6 | 9 | Knowledge Integration | Take-home Final | 10 | Corporate Social Responsibility in a Global and Technological Environment | Team Project 2 | Assignment Details Session | Module/Topics Readings/Assignments | 1 | The Manager as a Systems ThinkerObjective 1: Apply models of critical thinking and systems thinking to address complex organizational issues.Objective 2: Reflect on seminar assignments and relate the skills and knowledge gained to personal and professional goalsCompetency : Systems Thinking | Read the following articles which you can find and download from the UMUC library databases: (A) ABI/Inform(B) Business Source Complete Hill, L.A. (2004). New manager development for the 21st century. Academy of Management Executive, 18(3)...
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...shared has been collectively termed as organisation theory (Crowther and Green 2004). Organisation theory is an area of study whereby organisations serve as the phenomenon of interest for theorisation and explanation. In actual fact, it involves many theories that do not always fit together thus multiple perspectives have to be used to analyse the complexities in organisation. The four perspectives are modernism, symbolic-interpretivism, postmodernism and critical theory. Each perspective provides different manner of interpreting the world which results in different knowledge acquired (Hatch & Cunliffe 2006). Globalisation has enable organisations to enter new markets and reduce business cost. These organisations are known as transnationals because their routine activities have crossed borders. They are able to exert control through ownership and/or through operations (eds. Alvesson, Bridgman & Willmott 2009). In this essay, I will be using modernist and critical theory perspective and related theories to analyse how Apple as a capitalist, exercise power and over its organisation network and external environment. The first section of the essay includes the meta-theoretical frame work of the two perspectives. It also includes how the two different perspectives view power in the organisation and the environment. The second section will be my analysis of Apple using control theories and the resource dependency theory to analyse how Apple has the power over Apple’s own...
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...A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ARTICLE “THE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT” WRITTEN BY TRKMAN (2010) COHORT 5 (BSS001-6) TABLE OF CONTENTS Pg 1. Executive summary……………………………………………………….......3 2. Introduction……………………………………………………………….…....4 3. Importance of the Study……………………………………………………....5 * BPMs relevance & Importance to Information Systems……………...5 4. Research problems and significance………………………………….........6 5. Contributions and originality……………………………………………...….7 6. Theoretical arguments………………………………………………………..8 *The Contingency Theory……………………………………………...….8 * Dynamic Capabilities Theory:……………………………………..…….9 *Task Technology Fit………………………………………………..….….9 7. Research methods ……………………………………………………..….....9 *An outline of the methods used for the research study……..…......…9 *Description of methods…………………………………………….......10 *Analysing the Methods suitability for the study………………………10 8. Key Findings of the study ………………………………………………..…12 9. Research Limitations ……………………………………………………….13 10. Suggestions for future research……………………………………….….14 11. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………...15 12. References…………………………………………………………………..16 13. Appendix* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY According to Zairi’s (1997) definition, BPM...
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...The Contributions of Management Theory and Practice to Emergency Management John C. Pine is the Director of the Disaster Science and Management, Professor-Research with the Department of Environmental Studies and Interim Chair of the Department of Geography and Anthropology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. (225) 578-1075 Email: jpine@lsu.edu httt://www.risk.lsu.edu Abstract This chapter takes a look at the impact that management theory and how the basic functions and practice of management as well as the role of the manager and approaches to management have contributed to the practice of emergency management. Current views of management theory stress the changing nature of the external environment and the need to understand and address these external forces for change. The contribution and role of systems theory and contingency theory to the emergency management process is stressed. Although some might view that we do not manage disasters, there is an overlap between the contribution of management theory and emergency management. Management theory stresses the need for effective planning to ensure that organizational goals are obtained. Emergency and crisis management emphasize that effective emergency response and recovery is based on good planning. Building sustainable organizations and communities is a common goal of both management and emergency management. Management and disaster-related issues and concerns along with strategies to improve...
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...Assessment item 2 Strategic Management OR Knowledge & Learning Value: 45% Due date: 11-Sep-2015 Return date: 02-Oct-2015 Length: 3000 words Submission method options Alternative submission method Task You are required to write a 3000 word essay on either Strategic Management or Management Knowledge & Learning as follows: * Use an organisation that is or has been in the news during the past two years (work-related learning) as an example of strategic management practices.Failing that, select an organisation with which you are very familiar such as your current employer. * Apply and evaluate at least three theoretical concepts of either Strategic Management or Management Knowledge & Learning. * Go on to examine and evaluate critically how these theoretical concepts influence managerial practices in your chosen organisation with reference to either Strategic Management or Management Knowledge and Learning. * Critically reflect on these practices and compile a series of recommendations that would enhance either Strategic Management or Management Knowledge and Learning practice in your chosen organisation. * Academic and professional communication skills: You must follow an essay structure that is at a minimum an introduction; a main body that outlines the argument, analyses the material you have researched and assesses this according to the guidelines above; and a conclusion.Your writing style must follow professional literacy: Citations and a final reference...
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...Intake Operations Management Operations Management – Critical Evaluation of Relevant Issues Report 4000- 4500 words 50% Feedback Date Issued by (Assessor) Internal Verifier Plagiarism S M A Hashmi When submitting work for assessment, students should be aware of the LSBF guidance and regulations in concerning plagiarism. All submissions should be your own, original work. You must submit an electronic copy of your work. Your submission will be electronically checked. The Harvard Referencing System must be used. The Wikipedia website must not be referenced in your work. Harvard Referencing Scenario To use operations as a competitive weapon, organisations must use its resources effectively, in a way that satisfies its customers. Operations Management is said to be common responsibility of all managers irrespective of which function they are in. A manager needs to be aware of the overall operations of the organisation to contribute well to end to end process/processes. Your Task This assignment requires you to write a report on the operations management of a chosen organisation (preferably a medium sized firm). In the report you must: a) Identify the overall input, transformation and output operations of the firm b) Identify those major operation areas that are critical to the competitive advantage of the chosen organisation c) Critically evaluate the performance of each identified area while using the appropriate concepts (capacity planning, inventory management, supply chain design...
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...MSc Business Management BS7916 Principles of Responsible Management Semester One 2013- Module Handbook Module Leader : Dr Roz Sunley Room 201 Roz.Sunley@winchester.ac.uk Room 201 West Downs 01962 827339 In this module study guide you will find much of what you need in order to successfully complete the module. Further learning materials and information are available on the learning network under the module code BS7916. Module Code BS7916 Module Name: Principles of Responsible Management It is your responsibility to: * Collect a copy of the reading pack from the faculty office * Attend both lecture and seminar sessions as stated on your timetable * Arrive in time for the start of all taught sessions * Read the preparatory reading before the taught sessions each week * Undertake any directed learning that may be set * Seek help from the module tutor if you are having any problems with any aspect of the module * Hand in assignments on time Tutor contact details: Module leader: Dr Roz Sunley Roz.Sunley@winchester.ac.uk Module tutor: Dr Natalia Yakovleva Natalia.Yakovleva@winchester.ac.uk Module administrator: Karen Robbertze Karen.Robbertze@winchester.ac.uk Contents Introduction and learning outcomes 3 Weekly schedule 4-6 Assessment 7-9 Useful texts 9-11 Feedback, Harvard referencing etc 12 Study guide for each week 12 - 17 Marking criteria 18 – 20 Background...
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...Theory of Constraints John Blackstone (2010), Scholarpedia, 5(5):10451. | doi:10.4249/scholarpedia.10451 | revision #91862 [link to/cite this article] | Curator and Contributors 1.00 - John Blackstone * John Blackstone, University of Georgia The Theory of Constraints is the name given to a series of decision making techniques first created by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt beginning around 1980 and later applied and augmented by a number of others. The Theory of Constraints has been applied to production planning, production control, project management, supply chain management, accounting and performance measurement, and other areas of business as well as such not-for-profit facilities as hospitals and military depots. It has also been applied to decision making in educational settings. Dr. Goldratt holds a Ph. D. in physics; he has often stated that in developing the Theory of Constraints he is applying the techniques of the hard sciences, such as cause-and-effect analysis, to soft sciences such as business management. The Theory of Constraints states that constraints determine the performance of a system. A constraint is anything that prevents a system from achieving a higher performance relative to its goal. A system is any collection of interconnected parts sharing a common goal. The Theory of Constraints was first applied to business systems. Dr. Goldratt defines the goal of a for-profit business as to make more money now and in the future. This definition is in keeping...
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...Organization, Class and Control. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Daft, R. L. (2003) Management, (6th edition), Thomson South-Western. Grey C & Willmott, H. (2005) (Eds) Critical management studies, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Grint, K. (1991) The Sociology of Work: an introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press. Handel, M.J. (2003) The Sociology of Organizations: Class, Contemporary and Critical Readings. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Mullins, L. (2011) Management and Organisational Behaviour, 9th ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Pugh, D. (1990) Organization Theory, 3rd ed. London: Penguin Books. Other editions available. Pugh, D. and Hickson, D. (1996) Writers on Organizations, 5th ed. London: Penguin Books. Other editions available. Thompson, P. and McHugh, D. (2009) Work Organisations: A Critical Approach, 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Watson, T. (2011) Sociology, Work and Industry, 6th ed. London and New York: Routledge. Some Relevant Journals in Bangor University 1. Academy of Management Review (AM) 2. Business History Review (Cambridge University Press) 3. British Journal of Industrial Relations (Wiley-Blackwell) 4. British Journal of Management (Wiley-Blackwell) 5. British Journal of Sociology (Wiley-Blackwell) 6. Human Relations (Sage) 7. Human Resource Management Journal (Wiley-Blackwell) 8. International Journal of Human Resource Management (Routledge) 9. Journal of Management Studies (Wiley-Blackwell) 10. New Technology Work and Employment (Wiley-Blackwell) ...
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