Organizational Sociology & Development Flashcards

Weber's concept of 'rationalization' in organizations primarily refers to which process?

Answer: Replacing tradition and emotion with systematic rules and efficiency

For Weber, rationalization meant the historical trend toward organizing social life—including work—around calculable rules, efficiency, and predictability rather than tradition or charisma.

In Mintzberg's organizational configurations, which structure is characterized by a large technical support staff that standardizes work processes?

Answer: Machine bureaucracy

The machine bureaucracy relies heavily on the technostructure to design standardized work processes that govern how operating-level workers perform tasks.

Which approach to organizational development emphasizes building on an organization's existing strengths rather than diagnosing and fixing problems?

Answer: Appreciative inquiry

Appreciative inquiry, developed by Cooperrider and Srivastva, starts with discovering what works well and uses positive stories to envision and create desired futures.

The 'glass ceiling' concept in organizational sociology refers to which phenomenon?

Answer: Invisible barriers preventing women and minorities from reaching senior leadership

The glass ceiling describes informal, often invisible structural and cultural barriers that prevent women and underrepresented groups from advancing to top organizational positions.

According to resource dependence theory, organizations primarily seek to reduce which type of vulnerability?

Answer: Dependence on external actors who control critical resources

Resource dependence theory holds that organizations act strategically to minimize their dependence on external entities—suppliers, funders, regulators—who control resources they need to survive.

Organizational 'boundary spanning' roles serve which primary function for a firm?

Answer: Linking the organization to its external environment by managing information and relationships

Boundary spanners—such as sales staff, lobbyists, or PR managers—act as intermediaries between the organization and outside actors, filtering information and managing external dependencies.

Which sociological concept explains how workers in service industries are required to manage their emotional expressions as part of their job duties?

Answer: Emotional labor

Arlie Hochschild coined 'emotional labor' to describe the effort required to display organizationally desired emotions—particularly in service work—regardless of one's actual feelings.