Chapter 6 Critical Approaches

Overview Political frame of reference –Unitary-common org. goals/conflict is rare –Pluralist-org. consist of groups w/ diverse interests/conflict is inherent & positive Role of theorist from the Critical Approach –Prescriptive-finding effective techniques for organizing –Descriptive-explaining relationships to understand –Sites of domination-raise awareness of people involved

Roots of Critical Approach Karl Marx & Fredrick Ingles –Inherent imbalance of power –Leaders prone to abuse –Critique leads to revolution-should not be afraid of retaliation Critical theory –Societal structures and imbalances lead to fundamental imbalances of power –Imbalance of power leads to alienation and oppression –Role of critical theorist is to uncover imbalances and bring to the attention of the oppressed

Pervasiveness of power Definition of power (what is power?) What are sources of power in an org? (p. 103) –Traditional approach Hierarchy, structure –Symbological approach Views power as a product of communicative interactions and relationships –Radical-critical approach Concerned with “deep structures” that produce and reproduce relationships in org. life Contribute to hostile work environment-lead to exclusion

Pervasiveness of power Control of modes of production –Economic conditions that underlie the production process Control of means of production –Actual work process Control of gender issues –Focus on patriarchy –Stereotypical female characteristics are devalued (emotion, empathy, intuition) Control of org. discourse –The way we comm. can empower power

Ideology and hegemony Ideology –Taken for granted assumptions about reality that influence perceptions of situations and events Hegemony –Process in which a dominant group leads another group to accept subordination as the norm

Emancipation Liberation of people from unnecessarily restrictive traditions, assumptions, ideologies and power relations Not everyone always wants to be liberated Even in the most hegemonic culture, employees still have some ability to “resist” management control Dialectic of control –“Relations of autonomy and dependence (power relations) are never fixed; that is, subordinates can always exercise some degree of control over the conditions of hegemonic reproduction” (awareness)

Critical Approaches Theory Concertive Control Theory –Theory predicts that power relations (control) still exist with a team based environment –Concertive means mindful effort –Power is embedded in a system of identification, rules, & discipline –Workers self-regulate & identify with mang. values thinking it is there own decision!

Critical Approaches Theory Three components of Concertive Control Control Identification Discipline (self monitoring)

Critical Approaches Theory Feminist theories –Org.’s are inherently patriarchal –Traditional vs. feminist characteristics “bounded rationality” (logic vs. emotion) –Different view points toward male domination Liberal feminists Radical feminists Case in Point - “Using the F Word” (p. 113) –Sexual harassment Framing devices & Policies still tend to oppress (Table 6-2/p. 115) Hostile work environment-degree of exclusion

Research methods Quantitative –Demonstrates how resources are distributed in organizations or how individuals perceive their lives within org’s Interpretive –Similar to those used by cultural scholars Deconstruction (Table 6.3-p. 117) –Involves “taking apart” a text in order to reveal social and political meanings

So What? Ponder these questions! (These might be good questions for the discussion board ) What does this mean to you? Are we taking things too seriously? Do you feel like you have ever been marginalized, been put at a disadvantage, or missed an opportunity because of certain cultural characteristics? What’s the role of communication? How can we make change?