Conservative, entrepreneurial, professional, bureaucratic and organic styles of management.
Along with the ten pure styles of management, a defective version of each pure style was also developed. The pure styles were developed on the basis of research done on management styles both in India and abroad, as well as extensive management consultancy and training experience. Similarly, the defective forms were conceptualized on the basis of research and consultancy and training experience.
The ten pure management styles are the conservative style and the sharply contrasting entrepreneurial style, the professional style and contrary to it the intuitive style, the participative and the opposing authoritarian style, the organic or free form and the opposing bureaucratic style, the familial style or paternalistic style, and the altruistic style.
Some of the important ones are enumerated below:
a) The conservative style:
The essence of conservatism is conservation of what has worked in the past and has demonstrated survival value. The principle of survival is at the core of the conservative style of management. Conservatism does not necessarily mean refusal to change. It means instead, caution in changing.
The pure conservative style was defined as follows:
‘A cautious one-step-at-a-time approach to problems. Decisions are generally compromises between the conflicting demands of board, unions, government managers, customers, etc. Precedents and traditions are given importance. The primary concern is with stability and steady growth’.
b) The entrepreneurial style:
While conservatism facilitates survival, enterprise facilitates conquest and the unfolding of opportunities for growth. The entrepreneurial style has emerged from this spirit of adventure, probing and innovation. Entrepreneurship not only creates new industries, opens up new markets and transforms old or mature industries, it also builds civilizations.
The pure entrepreneurial style was defined as follows: ‘active search for big new opportunities; large, bold decisions despite the uncertainty of their outcome; a forceful leader at the top wielding great power; and rapid growth as the major organization goal’.
c) The Professional style:
A scientific approach, high level of formal expertise, reasonable consensus about do’s and don’ts and formal training are traits of a professional approach to management.
One focus of this movement was the manual work performed in the organization. The other focus was managerial work performed in the organization.
The pure professional style was defined as follows: ‘systematic search for growth opportunities and systematic anticipation of problems through formal forecasts; a systematic consideration of costs and benefits of alternatives and a carefully coordinated formalized top management strategy’. The emphasis is on long-term planning, professional management, a sophisticated control and information system and the extensive use of expertise and all-pervasive research before making decisions.
d) The Bureaucratic Style:
The core of bureaucratic style is quite primeval: management by programming the behavior of the members of collectivity. According to Max Weber, the bureaucratic mode of management was more efficient as well as more fair. It was more efficient because by programming everyone’s behavior rationally the organization could operate like a well-oiled machine. And it was fair because everyone knew what he or she was to be evaluated on.
The pure bureaucratic style was defined as follows: ‘a strong emphasis on smooth functioning by prescribing in writing objectives, procedures, rules, and the powers, duties and responsibilities of managers and other staff. The emphasis is on clear reporting relationships, precise job descriptions, formal communications, strict control and above all, correctness of procedures and accountability’.
e) The Organic Style:
Following are some of the characteristics of organic management:-
•Tasks are seen in their total contexts
•Continuous redefining of individual tasks through interaction with others, as during product design
•Commitment to getting a job done overrides definitions of responsibilities, rights , obligations or methods to be used
The pure organic style was defined as follows: ‘A strong emphasis on the free
flow of information and communication within the organization. Widespread awareness of the organization’s goals, problems and business plan of actions among managers at all levels. Dislike for paperwork and formalized procedures and job descriptions. The emphasis is on administrative flexibility, openness, innovation, the importance of the effective problem solver, and above all on resourcefulness and getting things done’.
Along with the ten pure styles of management, a defective version of each pure style was also developed. The pure styles were developed on the basis of research done on management styles both in India and abroad, as well as extensive management consultancy and training experience. Similarly, the defective forms were conceptualized on the basis of research and consultancy and training experience.
The ten pure management styles are the conservative style and the sharply contrasting entrepreneurial style, the professional style and contrary to it the intuitive style, the participative and the opposing authoritarian style, the organic or free form and the opposing bureaucratic style, the familial style or paternalistic style, and the altruistic style.
Some of the important ones are enumerated below:
a) The conservative style:
The essence of conservatism is conservation of what has worked in the past and has demonstrated survival value. The principle of survival is at the core of the conservative style of management. Conservatism does not necessarily mean refusal to change. It means instead, caution in changing.
The pure conservative style was defined as follows:
‘A cautious one-step-at-a-time approach to problems. Decisions are generally compromises between the conflicting demands of board, unions, government managers, customers, etc. Precedents and traditions are given importance. The primary concern is with stability and steady growth’.
b) The entrepreneurial style:
While conservatism facilitates survival, enterprise facilitates conquest and the unfolding of opportunities for growth. The entrepreneurial style has emerged from this spirit of adventure, probing and innovation. Entrepreneurship not only creates new industries, opens up new markets and transforms old or mature industries, it also builds civilizations.
The pure entrepreneurial style was defined as follows: ‘active search for big new opportunities; large, bold decisions despite the uncertainty of their outcome; a forceful leader at the top wielding great power; and rapid growth as the major organization goal’.
c) The Professional style:
A scientific approach, high level of formal expertise, reasonable consensus about do’s and don’ts and formal training are traits of a professional approach to management.
One focus of this movement was the manual work performed in the organization. The other focus was managerial work performed in the organization.
The pure professional style was defined as follows: ‘systematic search for growth opportunities and systematic anticipation of problems through formal forecasts; a systematic consideration of costs and benefits of alternatives and a carefully coordinated formalized top management strategy’. The emphasis is on long-term planning, professional management, a sophisticated control and information system and the extensive use of expertise and all-pervasive research before making decisions.
d) The Bureaucratic Style:
The core of bureaucratic style is quite primeval: management by programming the behavior of the members of collectivity. According to Max Weber, the bureaucratic mode of management was more efficient as well as more fair. It was more efficient because by programming everyone’s behavior rationally the organization could operate like a well-oiled machine. And it was fair because everyone knew what he or she was to be evaluated on.
The pure bureaucratic style was defined as follows: ‘a strong emphasis on smooth functioning by prescribing in writing objectives, procedures, rules, and the powers, duties and responsibilities of managers and other staff. The emphasis is on clear reporting relationships, precise job descriptions, formal communications, strict control and above all, correctness of procedures and accountability’.
e) The Organic Style:
Following are some of the characteristics of organic management:-
•Tasks are seen in their total contexts
•Continuous redefining of individual tasks through interaction with others, as during product design
•Commitment to getting a job done overrides definitions of responsibilities, rights , obligations or methods to be used
The pure organic style was defined as follows: ‘A strong emphasis on the free
flow of information and communication within the organization. Widespread awareness of the organization’s goals, problems and business plan of actions among managers at all levels. Dislike for paperwork and formalized procedures and job descriptions. The emphasis is on administrative flexibility, openness, innovation, the importance of the effective problem solver, and above all on resourcefulness and getting things done’.