Review of Literature on Organizational Diagnosis
2 Review of Related Literature
2.1 The Significance of Using Models
A model is a schematic description of a system, theory, or phenomenon that accounts for its known or inferred properties and may be used for further study of its characteristics. Thus in organizational models are schematic description of an organization as a system of different components.
Models are important in organizational study because of the following reasons:
• They enhance understanding of organizational behavior.
• They help categorize data about the organization
• They help interpret the collected and categorized data
• They present a platform of common understanding.
Organizational models, as compared to models in other fields of study, have not been around for long. It was only before about 60 years that Kurt Lewin developed the first well-composed organizational diagnosis model. This implies that they recently have been on that sloppy evolution curve. In the sections below some major organizational diagnosis models are presented.
2.2 The Two Pairs of Competing Approaches in Organizational Diagnosis
There are a handful of models for use in organizational diagnosis. These models are categorized into two major approaches: closed system approach and open system approach.
2.2.1 Closed System vs. Open Systems
Models that use closed system approach assume an organization separated from its environment: be it the clients, suppliers, partners and competitors. They segregate the organization as an organism separate from its habitat and focus on studying its properties, strengths and weaknesses.
The problem with this approach is that the diagnosis might not be as comprehensive and all rounded because there is no organization that is not, be it positively or negatively, affected by its clients, suppliers, partners and competitors. While an organization maintains its values and develop its internal drive and vision, it should also cultivate its interaction with the external
2.1 The Significance of Using Models
A model is a schematic description of a system, theory, or phenomenon that accounts for its known or inferred properties and may be used for further study of its characteristics. Thus in organizational models are schematic description of an organization as a system of different components.
Models are important in organizational study because of the following reasons:
• They enhance understanding of organizational behavior.
• They help categorize data about the organization
• They help interpret the collected and categorized data
• They present a platform of common understanding.
Organizational models, as compared to models in other fields of study, have not been around for long. It was only before about 60 years that Kurt Lewin developed the first well-composed organizational diagnosis model. This implies that they recently have been on that sloppy evolution curve. In the sections below some major organizational diagnosis models are presented.
2.2 The Two Pairs of Competing Approaches in Organizational Diagnosis
There are a handful of models for use in organizational diagnosis. These models are categorized into two major approaches: closed system approach and open system approach.
2.2.1 Closed System vs. Open Systems
Models that use closed system approach assume an organization separated from its environment: be it the clients, suppliers, partners and competitors. They segregate the organization as an organism separate from its habitat and focus on studying its properties, strengths and weaknesses.
The problem with this approach is that the diagnosis might not be as comprehensive and all rounded because there is no organization that is not, be it positively or negatively, affected by its clients, suppliers, partners and competitors. While an organization maintains its values and develop its internal drive and vision, it should also cultivate its interaction with the external