ABSTRACT
All of us live and work within the framework of some kind of organization, a context that provides written and unwritten, formal and informal rules about how its members conduct themselves. Various organizational styles are also evident in our college classes. Differences in organizational style in the workplace range from the rigid, hierarchical bureaucracy of the military and the civil service to the open, participatory approach that fosters high employee involvement. Organizational psychologists study the changing trends in organizational life to determine their impact on employee satisfaction and behavior. The first practical application of the bureaucratic organizational style appeared in the United States even before Weber published his ideas on bureaucracy. Organization charts look nice and give managers the feeling that employees are in their proper places and that the organization is running smoothly.
