ORGANISATIONAL INVESTIGATION
This assignment is based on the organisational theories from the readings of Weber, Mintzberg and Herzberg. Weber’s ideas on bureaucracy will be discussed, followed by Hertzberg’s hygiene and motivation theory and lastly, Mintzberg’s organisational structure theory. The theories will be critically discussed in relation to the structure of my placement, selected practices and the attitudes and values of the professionals who work there including myself. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn in relation to the suitability of the theories to my placement.
My placement is with an independent, charitable, diverse organisation providing emotional and practical support and information to victims of crime, helping them to take control of their lives, enabling them to move on to live in a safe environment. The organisation relies heavily on volunteers. We are independent of the police although, we work closely with them. The majority of referrals come from the police. However, we do receive self-referrals.
According to Weber’s (1964) theory of Social and Economic Organisation, there are three pure types of legitimate authority, based on rational grounds (legal authority), traditional grounds (traditional authority) and charismatic grounds (charismatic authority). A rational legal leader of authority is appointed on the grounds of conduct and qualifications, and is bounded by the laws and rules of the organisation. A traditional leader gains his position based on a system in which authority is legitimate because it has always been existed. This post is obtained by inheritance and is handed down overtime, and loyalty is based on custom. The charismatic leader’s position is based on his exceptional personal qualities and the accomplishment to inspire loyalty and confidence in his followers.
In Weber’s classification of authority, he links rational and legal in bureaucracy, the rational being the purpose of the organisation and legal...