Module 4

Chapter 1

Review Questions:

4. Briefly describe the elements of the formal and the informal organization. Give examples of each.

The formal organization is the official, legitimate, and most visible part that enables people to think of organizations in logical and rational ways. According to our text, the formal organization includes goals and objectives, policies and procedures, job descriptions, financial resources, authority structure, communication channels, and products and services. The informal organization on the other hand is unofficial and less visible. Again from our text we see that the informal organization includes beliefs and assumptions, perceptions and attitudes, values, feelings: such as fear, joy, anger, trust and hope, group norms and informal leaders.

The informal elements of the organization are frequent points of diagnostic and intervention activities in organization development, though the formal elements must always be considered as well because they provide the context for the informal. The informal elements are important because people’s feelings, thoughts, and attitudes about their work do make a difference in their behavior and performance. Individual behavior plays out in the context of the formal and informal elements of the system, becoming organizational behavior.

An example of formal organization is a code of conduct or fixed set of rules of internal procedures and structures. It is presented in writing as a language of rules that seemingly leave little discretion for interpretation. An example of informal organization is the attitude taken toward the formal organization. In some organization, such rules may be strictly followed; in others, they may be little more than an empty formalism. Therefore proving that the formal organization may set the law, but the informal governs.

Discussion and Communication Questions:

1. How do the formal aspects of your work environment affect you? What informal aspects of...