• Review the following scenario: You work for a formal organization in the United States that has an open, flexible organizational structure as described in Figure 5-5 on p. 126 of Society. You have a relative, Micah, who works for a formal organization with a conventional, bureaucratic organizational structure. Micah is interested in working for your organization, but he does not have the education or skill set to work there. He says he wishes that his company would adopt a flexible organizational structure, but doubts it is possible. You explain to Micah that you have been studying the evolution of formal organizations in your sociology class and that you would like to conduct some research to determine how formal organizations, such as the one Micah works for, are likely
What is your question?
Please note that we do NOT have access to Figure 5-5.
to evolve their organizational structure over time.
To conduct this research, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the research objective: Your objective is to understand how formal organizations, like Micah's, can potentially evolve their organizational structure over time.
2. Review existing literature: Start by researching and reviewing existing literature on organizational structure evolution. Look for academic studies, articles, and books that discuss the topic. This will provide you with a theoretical framework and help you understand the different factors that influence organizational structure changes.
3. Design research methodology: Determine the most appropriate research methodology to answer your research question. Consider using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather data. For example, you could conduct surveys or interviews with employees from different formal organizations to understand their experiences and perspectives on organizational structure evolution.
4. Collect data: Implement your research methodology to collect data. Distribute surveys, conduct interviews, or observe organizations to gather information on their structure evolution. Ensure you collect data from a diverse set of organizations to get a comprehensive view.
5. Analyze data: Once you have collected the data, analyze it to identify patterns, trends, and themes relating to the evolution of organizational structures. Use qualitative analysis techniques for interviews or open-ended survey questions and quantitative analysis techniques for closed-ended survey questions.
6. Draw conclusions: Based on your data analysis, draw conclusions about how formal organizations, including Micah's organization, are likely to evolve their organizational structure. Identify the factors that influence this evolution, such as industry trends, technological advancements, or changing workforce dynamics.
7. Present findings: Present your research findings in a clear and organized manner. Create a report or presentation summarizing your methodology, data analysis, and conclusions. Consider sharing your findings with Micah and other relevant stakeholders to spark discussions about the possibility of adopting a more flexible organizational structure.
Remember, this research process requires careful planning, data collection, and analysis. It's important to approach the topic objectively and consider multiple perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of organizational structure evolution.