Sociotechnical Systems and Management Styles Essay -- Technology Work

Sociotechnical Systems and Management Styles In todays advanced technological workplace, companies are looking into several new instruction styles and concepts. Among them is a theory called sociotechnical systems (STS). This is a theory that has been around for about 50 years and is still being attempted for use today. Many managers along with angiotensin converting enzyme member of the STS founding team, Fred Emery, argue that STS is obsolete other managers have implemented STS with great success. With this new style of management practice, several changes will have to beat back place. These changes along with several examples of both positive and negative effects will be examined throughout this essay. To introduce the STS theory and let the reader get an perceptiveness of just what is involved in STS, it is imperative to list several changes that must take place for an effective STS strategy to work. A few changes in the onetime(a) management style in comparison with ST S are listed below 1 Old-Technology first-People as extensions of machines-Maximum task breakdown, simple, narrow skills-External controls procedures, supervisors, specialist staffs-More organization levels, unconditional style unilateral goal setting, assignment of workers-Frequent alienation Its only a job -Less individual development opportunity and employment protectionSTS-Joint optimization of systems-People as complements to machines-Optimal task grouping, multiple, broad skills-Internal controls self-regulating subsystems-Fewer levels, participative style Bilateral goal setting -Commitment Its my job, group, and organization-More individual development opportunity and employment security As seen above, many changes are nece... ...John Hoerr and Michael Pollock. Management Discovers the Human Side of Automation. taken from Business Week. (1986), p. 1 http//organizationdesign.com/pages/articles2/auto.html10 John Hoerr and Michael Pollock. Management Discovers the Human Side of Automation. Taken from Business Week. (1986), p. 2 http//organizationdesign.com/pages/articles2/auto.html11 John Hoerr and Michael Pollock. Management Discovers the Human Side of Automation. Taken from Business Week. (1986), p. 1 http//organizationdesign.com/pages/articles2/auto.html12 Pasmore, William. Designing Effective Organizations The Sociotechnical Systems Perspective. New York 1998.13 Jacobs, D.A. and Keating C.B. Process Analysis and Personnel Development Program. Jefferson Lab, Newport News, VA, April 1998.14 Zell, Deone. Changing by Design. Cornell University Press, 2000.