Optional Public Administration – 2. Basic Concepts And Principles.pdf

Various management theorists define organization as follows: Mooney - form of every human arson, Simon - planned system of co-operative effort, Gulick - formal structure of authority, Gladden - pattern of relationship in an enterprise, Pfiiffner - relationship for orderly division of labor, LD White - arrangement of personnel for allocation of functions and responsibilities, C Barnard - system of consciously co-ordinated activities, J.M. Gaus - relating of efforts and capacities for least friction and most satisfaction, Urwick - what activities are necessary, arrange, assign.

Key elements of organization include common purpose, common willingness to serve, and functions such as dividing work, formally standardized practices, common systems, transmitting decisions, and training.

Theories of organization include the scalar chain, unity of command, and span of control. The scalar chain refers to the hierarchical arrangement of authority and responsibility, while unity of command states that an individual should have only one superior. Span of control refers to the number of subordinates a manager can effectively supervise.

Authority and responsibility are also key concepts in organization theory. Authority refers to the power to make decisions, while responsibility refers to the obligation to carry out duties. Types of authority include traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational, while types of responsibility include operating and ultimate. The principle of correspondence states that authority and responsibility should be equal and conterminous at all levels.