What is structuralist theory in management?

The structuralist theory in management It is a fragmentation of the theory of bureaucracy and a small approximation to the theory of human relations, This theory usually represents a critical vision of the formal company and focuses on relating each of the parts.

Is structuralist theory determines the different approaches that consider the data as a system that relates the point critical of the company based on the development of its operation and thus amplify all its objectives.

Characteristics of the structuralist theory in management

Among the characteristics of this theory the following can be mentioned:

• The structuralism it focuses especially on structuring and ignores the different models that make up reality.
• It is a comparative and analytical method that studies the elements related to the value of their positioning.
• It is an internal analysis of the elements that represent a certain system together with their interrelation and arrangement, to make the verification and in turn applied in different things, therefore, it can be said that structuralism is a functioning comparative.
• Its authors try to relate companies to their external environment or business society. Due to this, there is a new business and human concept, which plays its roles in different organizations at the same time.
• Business analysis from a structuralist point of view focuses on unifying and multiplying the formal business system and informal, since both material and social rewards and sanctions can be considered, taking into account the various types of Business.
• This theory carries out environmental studies, based on the idea that companies are systems open to interaction with their environment.

Origins of structuralist theory in management

The origins of this theory were as follows:

• The opposition that was generated in the traditional theory and the theory of human relations, the need arose of a broader and more comprehensive position that managed to relate factors reasoned by one and excluded by the other.
• The need to see a company as a broad social unit, where there is an interaction between social groups, where they share different objectives of the company as the economic management of the company, however, it could become incompatible with the distribution of profits of other Business.
• The influence of this theory in the social sciences and in the business study, had great dominance in psychology, philosophy and in mathematics, among others, such as administrative theory, where structuralists focus on companies social.
• The updated structure concept is based on the principles where history facilitated achievements such as part of a structural unit, with sufficient control and permanent fluidity of what is expected to be achieved.
• Structuralism is the formal set of two or more elements that cannot be altered during the change of the different contents, this means that the structure is maintained through the interaction of any of its elements or relations.
• This theory focuses on the whole and the relationship that exists between the parts that are in the constitution of the whole. The totality, the independence of the parts and the simplicity of the summation of the parts, are the basic factors of structuralism.

Principles of structuralist theory in management

Among the most important principles of this theory are:

• The job classification is clearly established within the company, this means that each worker must know his role, the position he occupies and the level of responsibility that he must have.
• It is determined that each worker in the company must be responsible for specific tasks that he must perform.
• The structuralist theory includes a certain rigidity at the moment of a communication, one of the most used systems is writing and registered messaging, therefore, the communication forms could be used in a habitual.
• Work relationships are usually impersonal, this means that this theory considers that relationships are carried out between job positions and not between workers.
• There is a set of regulations, policies and standards that are determined in writing in order to regulate each of the activities carried out within the company.
• The salary system is governed by levels of scale, that is, a higher level position has a higher salary than its subordinates and employees who comprise a position that is within the same hierarchical rank, get the same amount wage.
• This theory rejects favoritism and supports the inclusion of new participants in the company for the benefit of their knowledge, experiences and merits.
• Promotions work based on the seniority of the workers or on merits achieved. This means that an employee who joins a company can carry out his profession during his stay in the organization and thus visualize the position that he could obtain later.

Guidelines of structuralist theory in management

This theory allows balancing all the components or resources of a company, considering the work effort. It is a proposal that aims to analyze business difficulties, taking into account the different elements related to responsibility, authorities and communication within the organization.

In this sense, it considers certain basic guidelines that are developed at a structural level within the company, these guidelines are:

• Authority: Every company has more than one individual who is in charge of directing other people within the company.
• Normativity: In companies there are a series of policies, guidelines, regulations and standards that must be met.
• Communication: Be it efficient or deficient, in all companies there must be a level of communication in order to achieve the objectives of the organization.
• Behavior structuring: Refers to the classification of activities that put the company into operation and the efficiency of the work effort.