Transcript Slide 1

Organizational Environment Theory
MGT-5012
Spring Term 2010
GROUP 6
By:
Angela Estevez-Cubilete
Alfredo SantaMaria
Italo Moron
Luis Pajares
Luisa Rivera
Organizational Environment Theory

Definition- The set of forces and
conditions that operate beyond an
organization’s boundaries but affect a
manager’s ability to acquire and utilize
resources.

Application within an OrganizationThe study of the external environment
and it’s impact on an organization has
become a central issue in management
thought.
Organizational Environment Theory:
Beginnings
The
Organizational
Environment
Theory was
influenced in
the 1960’s by
leading
researchers
Daniel Katz,
Robert Kahn,
and James
Thompson.
• Daniel Katz(1903-1998)- American
psychologist and founder of social psychology. He
worked as a psychology professor at Princeton
University and gained notoriety for his research
on the open system theory.
• Robert L. Kahn(1918)- American psychologist
and colleague to Daniel Katz at the Institute for
Social Research. His biggest contribution came
from his studies within survey methodology.
• James D. Thompson(1920-1973)- American
Sociologist and Business major from Indiana
University. His contributions derived from
studying social sciences within organizations.
Responsible for one of the most influential
organization publishing; Organizations in Action:
Social science bases of Administrative theories.
Organizational Environmental Theory: External Factors
Organizational Environmental Theory: External Factors (cont’d)
Application of the Organizational Environment
Theory within
Organizational Systems
Open
System -VS-
Closed
System
Open-System’s Recycling Method of Production
Input Stage
Conversion
Stage
Output stage
Outcome phase
• Organization obtains inputs from its environment. i.e.
raw materials, capital/ money, human resources.
• Organizations transforms inputs and adds value to
resources. i.e. machinery, computers, human skills.
• Organizations releases outputs to its environment. i.e.
Goods & Services
• Sales of outputs allow organizations to obtain new
supplies of outputs. Restarts the process at the input
stage once outcome has been derived.
Organizational Systems
• The Open System
Open System
is dependent upon
A system that
takes in resources
from its external
environment and
converts them into
goods and services
that are then sent
back into that
environment for
purchase by
customers.
the external
environment which
effects its
evolution,
Production, Supply
and Demand
Needs,
Sustainability,
competitive
advantage and
Profit gains within
markets.
• Similar to a
Recycling process
method for
producing, selling,
and gaining.
Closed System
A System
that is
selfcontained
and thus is
not
affected by
occurring
in its
external
environme
nt.
• Unlike the
open system,
the closed
system is
independent
and
processes in
an outward
process
rather than
circular.
• Entropy- The
tendency of a
closed
system to
lose its ability
Examples of Open Systems Organizations
Jackson Health System as an Open System
RECYCLING SHIFT
The Organizational Environment in a
Closed System
By the 1900’s, closed
system approaches were
adopted within
companies to minimize
any external factors that
could off track companies
from maintaining their
supply and demand
chains. This system was
extremely popular for its
simplistic approach within
the organizational culture
and created benefits for
companies. Some of the
benefits were seen in
productivity, product
efficiency, and
consistencies
manufacturing. However,
The closed system
approach has evolved
over time because of its
external environment.
Eventually it revealed its
negative consequences
from using this approach
as a business strategy.
CREDIT
Compute
CARD
r
COMPANI
ES
Software
Compani
es
Electrical
Companie
s
ENTROPY
Organizations that opt
for the closed systems
approach would
eventually minimize its
value over time. As
time has changed,
many organizations
have found that
ignoring the external
environment would be
detrimental to the
business performance
and would minimize
company value over
time. The external
environment needs to
be examined to avoid
Entropy. As part of the
Value Driven
Management Strategies
, Closed System
companies have now
molded their rigid
systems to include the
external factors that
may create implications
over time.
IBM Industries as a Closed System
• Some IBM divisions have the capabilities to run with only IBM’s
internal resources.
Financial Banks as Closed Systems

VISA

CITIBANK
MASTERCARD
BANK OF AMERICA
AMEX
• Banks have control, power and capabilities to
run themselves.
References
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Johnson, William C. & Weinstein, Art (2004) Superior Customer Service Value
in the New Economy: Concepts and Cases, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton,
Florida, pp. 230
Jones, Gareth R. & George, Jennifer M. (2009) Contemporary Management, 6th
Edition, McGraw-Hill/ Irwin Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 61-62
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Katz
http://www.drda.umich.edu/news/michigangreats/kahn.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JamesD.Thompson
http://epress.anu.edu.au/info_systems/mobile_devices/ch11s02.html