Note by James R. Martin, Ph.D., CMA
Professor Emeritus, University of South Florida
Management Theory Main Page | Structure
and Restructure Main Page
This paper compares the dimensions of three organizational types to show how American organizations may evolve. These authors were very perceptive considering this paper was written in the late 1970's.
| The Dimensions of Three Organizational Types | |||
| Dimension | Type A - American | Type J - Japanese | Type Z - Modified American |
| Length of employment | Short term - high employee turnover | Lifetime - low employee turnover | Long term - moderate employee turnover |
| Mode of Decision making | Individual decisions | Consensus decisions | Consensus decisions |
| Type of Responsibility | Individual based on merit | Collective | Individual |
| Speed of Evaluation and promotion | Rapid | Slow | Slow |
| Dimension of control | Explicit with formalized measures (Emphasis on bureaucratic type control) | Implicit, informal and subtle (Emphasis on clan type control) | Mixed implicit, informal control with explicit formalized measures |
| Degree of specialization | Specialized career path. Bureaucratic control of individuals requires specialties and sub-specialties to reduce the interdependence | Non specialized career path | Moderately specialized career path |
| Extent of concern for the individual employee | Segmented, non personal task oriented concern | Holistic concern for employee's well being | Holistic concern |
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Bailey, C. D., L. D. Brown and A. F. Cocco. 1998. The effects of monetary incentives on worker learning and performance in an assembly task. Journal of Management Accounting Research (10): 119-131. (Summary).
Blake, R. R. and J. S. Moulton. 1962. The managerial grid. Advanced Management Office Executive 1(9). (The Grid).
Bonner, S. E. and G. B. Sprinkle. 2002. The effects of monetary incentives on effort and task performance: Theories, evidence, and a framework for research. Accounting, Organizations and Society 27(4-5): 303-345. (Summary).
Deming. W. E.1993. The New Economics For Industry, Government and Education. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Advanced Engineering Study. (Summary).
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