For many centuries, formal organizations, employers and employees have been taught to operate the same. However many things have changed from the type of jobs and organizations, to how these jobs were completed. For centuries most formal organizations
operated under what we call conventional bureaucracy. Conventional bureaucracy is known for its many levels in what we see as the pyramid. The pyramid starting with some higher ranked employees that have more authority down to the hard working rank and file workers, with no say so or authority at all. There were many challenges that these organizations faced. Hard work has always been appreciated throughout the years with these organizations. Past years work was completed with back-breaking labor and now with the advancement of modern technology most but not all work has been replaced with technology devices and more creativity. Unlike family traditions that are learned from generation to generation, how we operate our organizations these days and in our future will be nothing like the way our ancestors had to work.
Like previously stated with the modern day technology advancements that we are witnessing, things have become much easier for us, than in past times. At that time the way these organizations attended to their jobs was the same form generation to generation. The work was done but with no change or new creative ideas, these employees felt they were at a dead end job. In the past there were many things that they lacked, that now are beneficial and a must have for formal organizations to operate more efficiently these days. Something that these past generations lacked that is very important to most peoples every day lives today is the technology we have access to on a daily basis. This day in age formal organizations are able to keep records via data bases, as computers and technical devices have been invented. Formal organizations that have to interact with clients, customers and other organizations now have the access to interact via satellite and conference calls as to the past these interactions would have been made face to face with more expenses. As air fare, hotel lodging and the time one would have to invest would be a must and could be rather expensive. Another limitation that these companies faced was the fact that tradition is strong in pre-industrial societies. This meant that their goal was to preserve their cultural systems and not to change them when it came to organizational issues. Many of these reasons have caused past organizations to be inefficient.
Formal organizations that practice conventional bureaucracy have many levels of authority with a clear chain of commands. Each level has a title and they have certain expectations they have to uphold for the organization. Each employee has a specific job that they are to perform and a manager or supervisor they will have to report to. These organizations have set standards, rules, policies and regulations that they have follow. These rules and regulations are what kept these organizations some what organized. Relationships within these organizations are very minimal to none. The communications between employees at these types of organizations are usually through an email or a letter of some sort.
Bureaucracy is defined as an organizational model rationally designed to perform tasks efficiently. Employees work hard to meet and exceed specific goals of their job requirements. They have to report to specific managers or superiors. This is how things were done with little to no change. During the century of the 1900’s you would usually see white males in management or positions with more authority. In this day in age you will find equal amounts of managers both men and women. Now days there are laws that refrain employers and organizations from discriminating on gender and race. As stated before many things have changed, instead of using each employee’s talents individually, organizations use creativity and strengths to see if there is a better way of getting the job done as in previous times things were repetitive wit no creativity. Like the saying something carved in stone. If an employee has a suggestion on how to better the organization and its employees they will usually take into consideration the options. Many organizations are about their employees and the company, not just the company. Organizations want to find workers for the long run, not to just fill a responsibility. They value the opinions of their employees. Not only is organization a top priority so are the employees.
This new type of work that many organizations are adapting to is called an open, flexible organization. The open flexible organization has flattened out the bureaucracy pyramid. This gives most of the employees in the organization the same responsibilities and the same rewards. Instead the many different levels, they are on a more even level with each other. With these new modern work environments employees are able to more creative; they are using greater flexibility competitive teams, working together for the same goal. Organizations are now hiring new employees based off ideas they have and the potential to grow with the organization instead of hiring someone for the work they are able to perform. Organizations today want an employee for a lifetime not for the time being. These new ways of our organizations want to invest the their employee, because they know they deserve nothing less. In the past organizations would have specific rules and policies, with the new modern ways of organizations they set guidelines for all to follow. Communication has come a long way as well. They tend to hold meetings for all to attend including all employees instead of just the Directors and CEO making decisions and because of this relationship have become primary as in the past they have always been secondary.
Not all organizations will be accustomed to the new open, flexible organizations. Telemarketing companies and fast food chains will still remain with the bureaucracy pyramid. There jobs will remain repetitive doing the same things day in and day out. There is not much more creative you can be in making a cheeseburger and fries. They will always have a superior to answer to, trying to make it to the top of the pyramid.
In conclusion, all employee and organizations should want to see the same goal in mind. These organization need to have the employee and organization best interest. They have to be able to hear the people and take into consideration the feelings and creative ideas that all have to offer. I personally feel that it will be more black and white. Some organizations will flatten the pyramid and work as a whole and there will be some organizations that continue with the pyramid roles. Nothing should be set in stone. Change is good. Change brings balance.