1.1 INTRODUCTION
Organizational behaviour is the understanding of individual and groups’ behaviour and patterns of structure in order to help improve organisational performance and effectiveness. However, the application of organisational behaviour and effective management of people at work take place in the context of wider environmental setting, including the changing patterns of organisations and work enhances the performance of employee. Furthermore, For the purpose of this assignment the approaches to understanding the nature of organisations will be reviewed in relation with my chosen paradigm and also the writer will be providing recommendations for my chosen organisation.
2.0 PARADIMATIC FRAMEWORK: functionalist
2.1 An overview of
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The paradigm possesses a pragmatic orientation; it is concerned with analysing society in a way which produces useful knowledge (Burrell and Morgan, 1979).
Objective Dimension: Burrell and Morgan
2.2 Assumption about the nature of social science: the functionalist perspective including the objective approach to social science will be used to analyse the ontology, epistemology, human nature and methodology under the literature of social philosophy (Burrell and Morgan,
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An example of an external force would be parents rewarding certain type of behavior, therefore further encouraging it, whilst an internal force would be that of hormones. However, functionalist claim that the nature of the universe is such that it is governed by certain universal scientific laws, so that each action is caused by a specific prior cause and human action is no exception Burrell and Morgan, (1979). Skinner (1938) argued that all behavior is determined by environmental events and that humans tend to repeat behaviors that are rewarded. In contrast the subjective school of taught believes that individuals have free-willed and completely independent (Choi 2013). Brown (2010) argued that the notion that people’s behavior is at the mercy of external forces is inaccurate and that people have free will in that they can choose how they wish to
Ned Block in Troubles with Functionalism offers his Absent Qualia Argument. The argument provides a counter example to functionalism. The essential aspect to the functional theory of mind defines mentality in terms of its functional states of a system. The functional states of a system match states according to their inputs, outputs, and internal states. Block’s counter example argues for the possibility of two systems to have the same functional states which determines their functional equivalence. In addition to functional equivalence, the two systems have distinguishable mental states. If functionalism is as adequate account of mentality, then functional equivalence entails mental state equivalence. Block argues against the consequent of
A determinist’s reply would state that humans are ignorant of the forces around them that are actually controlling their behavior in this sense; man becomes a puppet to irresistible forces acting upon him. Neither the free will nor the determinism theories can be proven to be wholly causal of human behavior. Alternate theories are formulated that incorporate main points of free will and determinism that appear...
We shall consider Skinner’s Operant Conditioning theory as another type of example on Conceptual Critiques (Skinner, 1963). His theory states that the best way to understand a behavior is to look at the association made between the behavior and the consequence of that behavior. Although Skinner’s primary interest was in human behavior, most of his research was done on animals using laboratory apparatus well known as the Skinner box.
In social science, there are several paradigms, each with its own unique ontological and epistemological perspective. Examples of paradigms include positivism which focuses on objectivity, know ability, and deductive logic. Its assumption is that society can and should be studied empirically and scientifically (Ritzer, 2004). Critical paradigm’s main emphasis is on power, inequality, and social change. It is of the assumption that social science can never be truly value-free and should be conducted with the express goal of social change in mind (Calhoun, 2007). Social constructionism paradigm’ s main emphasis is that truth as varying, socially constructed, and ever-changing and is of the assumption that reality is created collectively and that social context and interaction frame our realities (Berger, 1966).
Functionalism agrees that brain states are responsible for mental states, but disagrees that they are identical with them. To do this, functionalists argue that neurological states or brain activity help to realize mental states, which then lead to behavior. This argument proposes that brain states are "low level" activities that help realize "high level" mental states.
This paper discusses three approaches that can be taken when studying Sociology. There are many subjects to be studied and discussed in the field of Sociology, and the approach chosen to study a particular subject is called a perspective. There are three different perspectives, and they are functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives. This paper compares and contrasts these different perspectives with one another.
According to Ned Block, Functionalism is concerned with finding the answer to the question (“what are mental states?”), ("What are mental states?”) One of the features of the functionalism is that it sees each form of mental state as being a state which includes the tendency to behave in particular ways in addition to possessing particular mental states.
Functionalism is a materialist stance in the philosophy of mind that argues that mental states are purely functional, and thus categorized by their input and output associations and causes, rather than by the physical makeup that constitutes its parts. In this manner, functionalism argues that as long as something operates as a conscious entity, then it is conscious. Block describes functionalism, discusses its inherent dilemmas, and then discusses a more scientifically-driven counter solution called psychofunctionalism and its failings as well. Although Block’s assertions are cogent and well-presented, the psychofunctionalist is able to provide counterarguments to support his viewpoint against Block’s criticisms. I shall argue that though both concepts are not without issue, functionalism appears to satisfy a more acceptable description that philosophers can admit over psychofunctionalism’s chauvinistic disposition that attempts to limit consciousness only to the human race.
Langton, Nancy, Stephen Robbins, and Timothy Judge.Organizational Behaviour: Concepts, Controversies, Applications. Fifth Canadian Edition. Toronto: Pearson Canada, 2009. 141, 574-84. Print.
One of the major sociological perspectives is Functionalism. Functionalism is centered around the work of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Robert Merton. Functionalism is described as a system of connected parts that are designed to achieve
Functionalism is the oldest and most commonly used theoretical approach used to understand social issues. Functionalism is a macrosociological perspective that presents the idea that society consists of different components working together to help a society function as one. Sociolog...
Schaub, E. L. (1920, July). A Sociological Theory of Knowledge. The Philosopical Review, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 319-339. Duke University Press on behalf of Philosophical Review.
The two theoretical approaches I have chosen to compare to the study of crime are Functionalism and Marxism. I have done so, as I believe both theories are important/ significant to the study of crime and differentiate from each other. I will do this by writing a critique the advantages and disadvantages of both of the theories and thus, resulting in my own personal opinion in the conclusion.
They believed that our thinking and our interpretations of our environments are what bring about our personalities. For example, if we perceived somebody to be dangerous then we would most likely have an alert and bitter personality. This goes along with the term called reciprocal determinism, which explains how people have the urge to influence each other in a mutual manner. This includes both personality and cognitive factors. For example, if I was introverted I would not talk to my classmates, and on the other hand they would observe my personality and return an introverted personality back to me by not talking to me either. Social learning theorists also propose that the majority of learning happens by watching other people. This implies that our families and teachers all play a significant role in our learning because those are the people we are more frequently around and observe. In addition, it is assumed that individuals have a locus of control. Some have an internal locus of control, which means they believe that life changes are due to their own work and personal characteristics, while external locus of control people believe that life changes are from chance or fate. An advantage of this theory is that it is widely accepted that people’s personalities are influenced by both internal and external factors. A disadvantage to this theory is that it implies that we
In conclusion conceptual relativism sets out to explain the world in term of the human mind to construct realities, and is concerned with truth and knowledge and radical Social constructionism is concerned with the idea that a variety of phenomena’s are socially constructed. This is then linked with the idea of radical anti-realism in relation to reality and the validity of science. Both are definitely problematic for any claim that the social sciences produce reliable knowledge for if knowledge is only meaningful to one group how can that have the same meanings to another group each individual sees the world through their own glasses so each and every individual holds a different opinion and no one opinion can be correct. How can any methods of research be correct if there is no real truth?