Sociology of Organizations: Potential and Challenges

Serpa, Sandro; Ferreira, Carlos Miguel

doi:10.18510/hssr.2019.7217

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

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“…Bureaucracy, the organizational approach originally put forth by Max Weber, as an attempt to rationalize the structure through a high formalism of procedures, materialized in the definition, interpretation and application of written laws, is a good example of the impossibility, ultimately, to totally predict the functioning of any organization (2,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). One of the main criticisms made to the bureaucratic model has to do with the central and exacerbated importance of rules and regulationsinternal to the organizationthat was ascribed to the rigidity of internal rules and regulations but that could tend to embody, contrary to the predicted, several "dysfunctions" of bureaucracy (19)(20).…”

Section: The Informal Dimensionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Informal in the Formal of Organizations: The Organizational Structure in Sociological Analysis

Barbosa¹,

Borges²,

Serpa³

2021

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Based on a sociological stance, this paper seeks to reflect on the formal and informal dimensions in the analysis of organizations. It focuses specifically on the organizational structure and its relationship with the social processes that shape the organizational dynamics. To fulfill this aim, this reflection discusses the concept of organizational structure as a pivotal element of the formal dimension of organizations, as well as its relevance as a key element of organizations. These elements make it unavoidable in any sociological analysis of organizations, whatever their nature, even in studies whose object is more directed to social dynamics and interactions. The results of this article allow concluding that there is heuristicity and, even, an indispensability to establish and analyze the relationship between the formal structure as a framework for the practices that take place in the organization and the existing concrete practices, which is often not simple to operationalize.

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Section: The Informal Dimensionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Informal in the Formal of Organizations: The Organizational Structure in Sociological Analysis

Barbosa¹,

Borges²,

Serpa³

2021

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Anthropology of a city: organization, communication, information

Ganopolsky

2020

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The article is concerned with the anthropology of a city. As an instrument of conceptualization, we used a three-dimensional scheme: organization — communication — information, which allows giving the urban interpre-tation for each of the coordinates, and then, using the two-dimensional projections (organization-information, or-ganization-communication, information-communication), to develop a concept of the three-dimensional image of city. It has been proposed to distinguish three types of organizational structures when considering the city as an organization: hierarchical, algorithmic, and relational. The necessity of curbing the growth of the city and solidat-ing it in the context of communication has produced a number of projections. One of them, "A compact city or city of short distances" has been considered. The concept of a compact city is based on the cost-effective public transport system, and it encourages pedestrian traffic and cycling. When considering the city as an organization, the main focus lies on its structure. From a topological point of view, it has been proposed to distinguish between three types of such structures: hierarchical, algorithmic, and relational. A hierarchical structure represents a tree of power hierarchy, but its content is not necessarily associated with consistent delegation of authority power (from top to bottom) or gradual accumulation of information (from the bottom up). Thus, a library catalogue, as well as other classification means, is arranged on the principle of hierarchy. An algorithmic structure is a scheme of production process which consists of a set of sequential operations. Its mathematical model appears as a net-work diagram. Typical examples of such structures include an algorithm of construction of a building, from founda-tion to roof, a conveyed assembly of complex technical devices, etc. In relation to a city, this structure can be filled with different content. Thus, carrying out of repair and maintenance in one of the city networks often requires not only formal coordination, but also a network schedule of joint work with other community services (water, electric-ity grid, heating, communication lines, etc.). A relational structure is a group of objects of arbitrary nature, usually of the same type, singled out from the total quantity of objects on the basis of any common feature. A complex of educational or medical institutions, trade companies, domestic services, etc. could be an example of such group within the organizational structure of a city.

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Sociology of Organizations: Potential and Challenges

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

The Informal in the Formal of Organizations: The Organizational Structure in Sociological Analysis

The Informal in the Formal of Organizations: The Organizational Structure in Sociological Analysis

Anthropology of a city: organization, communication, information

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