The rationale of classical theories of organization to sociologists on enriching sustainable community development in rural areas

INTRODUCTION

Classical organization theories were first propounded in the beginning of 19^th century deal with the formal organization and concepts to increase management efficiency. Taylor presented scientific management concepts, Weber gave the bureaucratic approach, and Fayol developed the administrative theory of the organization. They all contributed significantly to the development of classical organization theory.

Taylor's scientific management theory

Scientific Management Theory is a theory of management concerned with physical efficiency of an individual work.  It is a result oriented putting time as a key factor to organizational growth. The scientific management approach developed by Taylor is based on the concept of planning of work to achieve efficiency, standardization, specialization and simplification. Taylor developed the following four principles of scientific management for improving productivity; Science, not rule-of-thumb, Old rules-of-thumb should be supplanted by a scientific approach to each element of a person's work. Scientific selection of the worker, Organizational members should be selected based on some analysis, and then trained, taught and developed. Management and labour cooperation rather than conflict and lastly Scientific training of the worker. 

Weber's bureaucratic theory

Bureaucratic Theory was developed by a German Sociologist and political economist Max Weber (1864-1920). According to him, bureaucracy is the most efficient form of organisation. The organisation has a well-defined line of authority. It has clear rules and regulations which are strictly followed (Olsen, 2007). The characteristics or features of Bureaucratic Organisation according to Max Weber are as follows; There is a high degree of Division of Labour and Specialisation, There is a well-defined Hierarchy of Authority, It follows the principle of Rationality, Objectively and Consistency, There are Formal and Impersonal relations among the member of the organization, Interpersonal relations are based on positions and not on personalities, There are well defined Rules and Regulations, Selection and Promotion is based on Technical qualifications, and Only Bureaucratic or legal power is given importance (Mises, 1944).

Administrative Theory (Fayol 1841-1925)

Administrative theory "emphasized management functions and attempted to generate broad administrative principles that would serve as guidelines for the rationalization of organizational activities" (Rodrigues, 2001). Fayol developed general guidelines of how to formalize organizational structures and relationships. Primarily these principles were broad guidelines for decision making (Hissom, 2009). These principles included the following; Division of work, Delegation of authority, Discipline, Chain of commands, Congenial workplace, Interrelation between individual interests and common organizational goals, Compensation package, Centralization, Scalar chains, Order, Equity, Job guarantee, Initiatives, and Team-Spirit or Esprit de corps (Fayol, 1949).

DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS

Theory is a group of an ideas meant to explain a certain topic of science, such as single or collection of fact, event or phenomenon (Ritzer & Goodman, 2004)

Classical theory is the school of management thought in which theorists delved into how to find the best possible way for workers to perform their work (Ritzer & Goodman, 2004)

Community development is action that helps people to recognize and develop their ability and potential and organize themselves to respond to problems and needs which they share.  It supports the establishment of strong communities that control and use assets to promote social justice and help improve the quality of community life.  It also enables community and public agencies to work together to improve the quality of government and living standard in the community (http://www.scdc.org.uk/who/what-is-community-development).

Community development is the process of empowering individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to affect change in their own communities or Community development is the process of helping a community strengthen it and develop toward its full potential.

Sustainable community development means development of the community specifically community planned, built or modified to promote sustainable living such as equality, water, transportation, energy, and waste management for benefit of present and for future.

Rural area is a geographical area that is located outside cities and town.

The following are the rationale of classical theories of organization to sociologists on enriching sustainable community development in rural areas:-

Formulation of team work, through Weber’s theory of Bureaucracy under its feature of Division of labour, and Fayol’s fourteen principles of management help sociologists on mobilizing and organizing rural community to work as a team rather than individualism. These may help to enriching community development in rural areas, simply because within the community there are various rural development projects such as schools construction, road construction, and health centers construction.

Utilization of resources, classical theories of organization such as Administrative theory, Bureaucratic theory, and Scientific management theory help sociologists to utilize both human resources, physical resources, financial resources, and natural resources so as to enriching sustainable community development in rural areas. For example through administrative theory it helps on management of rural development project such as contribution on schools construction whereby people may contribute both physical contribution, material contribution, and financial contribution.

Decision making these means ability of selecting a logical choice from the available options that have effect to the development or livelihood. Through Weber’s bureaucratic theory of organization help sociologist on empowering rural people on making decision towards various project that affect their livelihood. For example, rural people they may have more than one project including Schools construction, road construction, health centers construction, and water project, rural people may select what kind of project they want to implement so as to enrich sustainable development.

Capacity building is an ongoing process through which individuals, groups, organisations and societies enhance their ability to identify and meet development challenges’. Through Taylor’s scientific management theory through its principle of management that “Organizational members should be selected based on some analysis, and then trained, taught and developed”, help sociologists imparting capacity building to rural community so as to protect their project for sustainable development. For example, if the project such as water project has been implemented, rural people will be trained on how to protect the project for sustainability for rural areas. 

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It will enable all stakeholders to contribute in community development, for example by using Taylor’s principle of scientific management number three “cooperation over individualism or Management and labour cooperation rather than conflict” this emphasize both sociologists and rural people to contribute their effort on achieving sustainable community development in rural areas.

Help to bring equality and fairness, Through Bureaucratic theory of organization under its features of “Impersonality” and administrative theory (Equity) help sociologist on provision of services in various villages without bias and personal interest so as to enriching sustainable community development in rural areas.

Conclusion

Classical theories of organization are very vital not only to sociologists but various fields whereby the principles such as division of work, hierarchy, delegation, span of control are still relevant for the management functions because it help to solve various problems within an organization hence increase efficiency and effectiveness. Classical theory of organization brought positive contribution to sociologist on enriching sustainable community development in rural areas whereby it help them to bring equality and fairness among rural people, enable stakeholders to contribute in community development, help on capacity building, help in utilization of resources, decision making and formulation of team work as a result sustainable community development in rural areas enriching.

REFERENCES

Fayol, H. (1949), General and Industrial Management, London, Pitman Publisher

Hissom, A. (2009), Introduction to Management Technology, Kent State University, Mc Graw

          Hill Publisher

Mises, L, V. (1944), Bureaucracy,New York, New Haven Yale University press

Olsen, J. P. (2007), The Ups and Downs of Bureaucratic Organization, New York, University of

               Oslo press

Ritzer, G. and Goodman, J. D. (2004), Sociological Theory, 6th Edition, University of Maryland

             & Puget Sound, McGraw Hill Publisher

Retrieved on 04-04-2014 from: http://www.scdc.org.uk/who/what-is-community-development

Rodrigues, C. A. (2001), Focus on Management History, New Jersey, Montclair State University

           Press

Written by AUSI CHIWAMBO, (2014)- (TEOFILO KISANJI UNIVERSITY)