Do the Organizational Structures of Religious Places of Worship Reflect Their Statements of Faith? An Exploratory Study

Burns and Stalker's theory of organic/mechanistic structures (1961, The Management of Innovation. London: Tavistock) has been widely used. However, review of the empirical literature revealed inconsistencies in how the concepts have been operationalized. These inconsistencies may interfere with the ability to consolidate knowledge. This paper reviews the various ways in which researchers have operationalized the concepts, and summarizes the empirical findings derived from these operationalizations. In doing so, it highlights gaps and opportunities for future empirical and methodological work, suggesting the need to further our theoretical conceptualization of the concepts and to draw attention to Burns and Stalker's () largely neglected corollary of the employee experience. As such, this review provides a road map for future exploration of the wide‐ranging implications associated with organic and mechanistic structures.

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“…Finally, centralized leadership was not required for decision‐making purposes in structures that emphasized formalized documents (Dyck et al . ).…”

Section: Ethics Influence and Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Along these lines, leaders with low LPC scores performed best in mechanistic structures (Csoka 1975). Finally, centralized leadership was not required for decision-making purposes in structures that emphasized formalized documents (Dyck et al 2005).…”

Section: Ethics Influence and Leadershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Organic and Mechanistic Structures: Do We Know as Much as We Thought?

Kessler

Nixon

Nord

2016

Int J Management Reviews

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“…As Dyck and his collaborators have argued, ‘surprisingly little of that research [on Weber] has specifically examined the relationship between the values evident in different religions and the practices of those religious organizations’ (Dyck et al. , 2005: 52).…”

Section: Religious Belief and Practices Of Church Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Weber and Church Governance: Religious Practice and Economic Activity

Mutch

2009

The Sociological Review

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The debate about the relationship between religion and economic activity in the wake of Weber has been cast largely in terms of belief and values. This article suggests an alternative focus on practice. It argues that taken for granted practices of church governance formed to-hand resources for the organization of economic activity. The argument is developed through an examination of the historical development of church governance practices in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, with particular emphasis on the way in which theological belief gave rise to practices of accountability and record keeping. In turn such practices contributed to a 'culture of organization' which had implications for economic activity. A focus on governance practices can help to illuminate enduring patterns of difference in the organization of economic activity.

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Organizational form, structure, and religious organizations

Hinings¹,

Raynard²

2014

Religion and Organization Theory

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Do the Organizational Structures of Religious Places of Worship Reflect Their Statements of Faith? An Exploratory Study

Cited by 6 publications

References 49 publications

Examining Organic and Mechanistic Structures: Do We Know as Much as We Thought?

Examining Organic and Mechanistic Structures: Do We Know as Much as We Thought?

Weber and Church Governance: Religious Practice and Economic Activity

Organizational form, structure, and religious organizations

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