Sociological perspectives on organization: past and present

Abstract

The phenomenon of organization has exercised the minds of social scientists for many years, resulting in a number of models, none complete in themselves. The discussion reviews the main analytical models in terms of which industrial sociologists have studied organization. A synthetic definition of the concept organization is given and then the historical development of the term is described. Some early models are discussed first, starting with the ideas of Weber and Mare, and continuing up to the time of the Second World War and the writings of the Mayo school and Michels. Recent models are then discussed, starting with the work of R.K. Merton and his contemporaries continuing up to the present time and the ideas of Etzioni, Blau, Cicourel, the neo-Marxists, and others. An attempt is finally made to determine what the contemporary perspectives on the future of organizations are and the extent to which industrial organizations will remain influential in affecting the nature of society in general. S. Afr. J...