Toward a Taxonomy of Organizations
Abstract
The multidimensional model for an organizational taxonomy is based on the following assumptions: (1) Organizations are behaving organisms whose behavior is represented by the coordinated, composite action of their members functioning in their roles as organizational members. (2) The behavior of organizations with respect to any task or index is a predictable function of three major sources of variance: (1) characteristics of individuals participating (abilities, motivational and stylistic personality traits, background, past experience and training, ethnic factors, etc.), (2) organizational characteristics (goals, tasks, group structure, facilities, procedures, etc.), and (3) characteristics of the physical and social environment. (3) The universe of variables representing persons, organizations, and external environment can be represented by factored dimensions (or common factors) which order the myriad of specific observable characteristics in terms of generalized composites. (4) The total variance of any criteria of organizational behavior can be accounted for by weighted combinations of the universe of dimensions of persons, organizations, and environment, within the limits of measurement error. (5) The dimensions of the taxonomy of organizations are indicated by the differential patterns of predictive weights obtained for various combinations of factors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 22, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0667437
Entities
People
- Saul B. Sells
Organizations
- Texas Christian University