Management theory is broken into three broad groups: classical, human relations and social systems. Classical theory assumes that organizational members are the tools of the management and therefore the system. It deals little with communication and focuses more on how work and labor are divided. There are several classical organizational approaches posed by different authors.
Henri Fayol's Theory
Fayol's theory proposes that management consists of planning, commanding, coordinating, controlling and organizing. He states that power relationships are formed within this structure and led by a reward system offered by management. Attitudes within the organization are guided by how the management uses their authority to dictate the rewards.
Max Weber's Theory
Max Weber's Theory focuses on the bureaucracy of the organization. It shares many similarities with Fayols theory but places a higher emphasis on the rules within an organization. According to Weber, rules must be set and followed by everyone in the organization without exception. He also places importance on having a rational authority in the organization that employees can turn to.
Frederick Taylor's Theory
Taylor's theory evaluates the relationship between management, workers and the way their jobs are designed. According to Taylor, jobs should be designed for the workers over time. Organizations should also be divided into strict division in which workers and management are separated; workers doing the physical work and managers doing the mental work.
Pure Classical Theory
Pure Classical theory is the precursor to the three theories mentioned above. It emerged in the early 20th century, featuring strict control of workers with a tight chain of command. This led to predictable behavior in which management could directly influence -- and essentially eliminated autonomy and creativity for workers.
Tags: Classical theory, Pure Classical, Weber Theory, within organization