Week 1 Application Assignment- Corrina Sinatro

Fayol and Webers’ use of the machine as a metaphor for organizations of the mid-twentieth century was undoubtedly influenced by the times. Going through this weeks readings, it occurred to me how different eras imprint themselves in the organizational experience.  With that in mind I set out to find a source that would reflect on the use of metaphor in today’s Information Age, as well as to see if Fayol and Weber’s positions on leadership thought stood the test of time.

Fayols’ inclusion of the importance of managerial education versus Webers’ focus on rules and technical training is an interesting contrast. An example that demonstrates the value of having managerial knowledge occurred particularly early in Fayols’ career, when an individual on his team failed to be empowered due to a static set of rules and order. Fayol demonstrated the value in drawing from outside ones technical knowledge in his reaction; Wren &Bedeian note that, “Fayols resolution of this impasse was not a result of his technical training, but the managerial insight that responsibility and authority must coequal or delays and disorder results.”(Wren &Bedeian, 2009 p. 213).

Fayol’s work translates seamlessly into the twenty-first century and the advent of the internet. The Information Age brings with it the power of a collective of individual specialists managing themselves. Large-scale organizations are increasingly influenced by this emergence, and it poses somewhat dangerous for them to depend on metaphor to create cohesion and translate timelessly. As Facebook's COO, Sheryl Sandberg mentioned in her address to Harvard Business School, “As the world becomes more connected and less hierarchical, traditional career paths are shifting as well…The metaphor for careers is a ladder, but I no longer think that metaphor holds...”  (Sandberg, link to speech in full, para 8, 12) Interestingly she offers the current metaphor of a jungle-gym.  This suggests metaphors can expire and must be re-visited to ensure they are sync with the times.

Weber’s bureaucracy is also still very much alive and well as is the machine analogy that so accurately describes it. However, it is critical for a large-scale business to choose wisely when it comes to the metaphorical glue that binds a large organizations vision; leaders must ensure it is applicable to it's current mission and to the groups that comprise the enterprise.  At AMD, we have traditionally been a “machine”, due to our being a manufacturer for over 20 years.  As business progressed and we outsourced our manufacturing, we shifted to a “culture” and as of late, with our newest CEO we now are “pirates” set sail to take market share from our competitors. Our mission is very clear and the fluidity of metaphor reflects well the evolution of the company and the impacts of time.

Overall the readings this week left me energized by the timelessness of the work of both Fayol and Weber and served as a reminder that an organizations metaphor must adapt to remain a relevant tool.  

Morgan, Gareth  (1998). Images of Organization, The Executive Edition, p. 6

Wren, Daniel. A., & Bedeian, Arthur G., (2009). The Evolution of Management Thought, The Emergence of The Management Process and Organization Theory, p. 215, 225.

Sandberg, Sheryl  (2012).http://poetsandquants.com/2012/05/24/sheryl-sandbergs-class-day-speech-at-harvard-business-school/ link to speech in full, para 8, 12