Francisco Rubio PA 301 Memo 2 The main differences between Taylor’s scientific management concept and Human Relations Theory are that in Taylor’s scientific management, there was four principles. The four principles were: 1) To replace the rule of thumb work methods with methods based on a scientific study of the tasks. 2) Scientifically select, train and develop each worker rather than passively leaving them to train themselves. 3) Co-operate with the workers to ensure that the scientifically developed methods are being followed. 4) Divide work nearly equally between managers and workers, so that the managers apply scientific management principles to planning the work and the workers actually perform the tasks. When implemented, these principles increased productivity in factories. On the other hand, the Human Relations Theory did more experiments to study the productivity in Taylor’s scientific management principles. Organizational culture refers to the customs and rituals that go on within an organization, and also to the behavioral norms or the way people interact with one another. It’s also defined as the values that underpin how an organization operates, or “how things are done.” According to Edgar Schein, organizational theory refers to shared notions that bind together members of an organization. Some of these include group norms and values, and also how people interact with one another like a good morning, and more. The principal-agent dilemma is when one person or entity, also known as the agent, is able to make decisions and/or take actions on behalf of, or that impact, another person or entity: the principal. This dilemma exists in circumstances where agents are motivated to act in their own best interests, which are contrary to those of their principals. The components of the this model are the technology of production, the set of feasible contracts, the payoffs to the parties, and the timing of events. Side note: I was not able to find the definition of the key term in the textbook, but I was able to provide some useful information of principal-agent dilemma and model here given from online. Groupthink is described in the textbook by Irving L. Janis as a specialized kind of conformity that occurs only in highly cohesive groups that operate in an environment where there is a feeling of security. The primary goal of this particular decision-making group is to maintain its power and cohesiveness. This is bad because it is characterized by extreme conformity, giving a bad reflection on the government. In other words, this means that groupthink is believed to be pervasive, and gives the impression that public administrators are haughty and uncaring.
