Question

Herbert Simon’s classification of contemporary research in administrative behaviour includes:

I. Research focusing on the Weberian stream of bureaucracy.

II. Research focused on human relations, aimed at improving cognitive processing.

III. Research utilizing the Barnard-Simon model to explain organizational survival based on motivational equilibrium.

Which of the following is correct?

• A. I only
• B. I and III only
• C. II and III only
• D. I, II, and III

Answer 1

Answer:

B. I and III only

Herbert Simon's Contributions to Administrative Behaviour

• Herbert Simon, a Nobel laureate, significantly contributed to the study of administrative behavior and decision-making in organizations.
• His work synthesized elements from various schools of thought in public administration and organizational theory.
• Simon classified contemporary research in administrative behavior into distinct streams:
  • I. Weberian Stream of Bureaucracy: This research focuses on the structural and hierarchical aspects of organizations, drawing heavily from Max Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy. Key elements include formal rules, division of labor, hierarchy of authority, and impersonal relationships. This stream emphasizes efficiency through rationalization and standardization.
  • III. Barnard-Simon Model of Organizational Survival: This stream, developed in collaboration with Chester Barnard, analyzes organizational functioning through the lens of decision-making and motivational equilibrium. It posits that organizations survive by maintaining a balance between the inducements offered to participants and the contributions they make. Key concepts include the 'acceptance theory of authority' and the importance of 'favorable information.' This model highlights the psychological and social aspects of organizational life.
• Simon critically analyzed the 'human relations' school (represented in option II), which focused on improving cognitive processing through psychological means. While acknowledging its importance, he distinguished it from his primary focus on the rational processes and decision-making structures within organizations. His own approach, particularly in 'Administrative Behavior' (1947), emphasized bounded rationality, where decision-makers operate with limited information, cognitive abilities, and time.
• Therefore, Simon's classification primarily includes research streams related to bureaucratic structures and the decision-making/motivational dynamics of organizations, as represented by the Weberian stream and the Barnard-Simon model.