Analysing Organization - Burrell and Morgan

ANALYZING ORGANIZATION

INTRODUCTION

“Model of organizational analysis developed by “Burrell and Morgan” classifies sociological theories along the two orthogonal dimensions of regulation vs. change and subjectivity vs. objectivity” (Burrell & Morgan - 1979). In this particular essay the chosen paradigm is Interpretivism, in order to have detail research on behavior and practice followed in Micron Technology Singapore, the chosen topic area is Culture, considering as an important factor from employees point of view, using qualitative research methods.

Paradigm, a structure which includes all the frequently accepted views on a subject and show us a structured direction, what research must be followed/focus and how it should be performed. “A paradigm hence implies a pattern, structure or system of scientific and academic ideas, values and assumptions” Olsen, Lodwick & Dunlop, (1992:16).

This particular essay begins by describing the nature of Interpretivist paradigm, then will have a brief introduction about the company Micron Technology Singapore, supported by a literature review which include observation, document reviews, visual data analysis related cultural practice, followed by organization analysis in detail on behavior and practices in Micron Technology Singapore which relates to Culture. Finally, the implications on cultural practice followed in Micron Semiconductor Singapore from an Interpretivist point of view.

INTERPRETIVIST PARADIGM

Interpertivism basically focus on qualitative methodology, which is primary exploratory research, understanding the underlying problems and an insight it to the problem with qualitative research techniques like textual analysis, interviews (individual or group) and observations. Reference to Burrell and Morgan (1979), “Interpretivism is not a single paradigm; it is in fact a large family of multiple paradigms”. It can also be called as ‘anti-positivist’ because, it was developed as a response to positivism approach, and it emphasize the ability of an individual or a group to express their views.

The methods used by an Interpretivist is greatly different from a Positivist research. A positivist uses research methods based on assumptions, theory, thesis etc. An Interpretivist research are mostly idiographic, as human beings we are able to communicate with each other, Interpretivist give more importance to such form of communication.

The purpose of this particular paradigm Interpretivist, is to highlight some fact that going around us with help of visual data compared to observations and people’s opinion, which helps us to understand and help us to develop true nature, which can never be observed from any secondary articles or reports, preferably it has to be perceived from inside directly from the experience of people. Reeves and Hedberg (2003, p. 32), “the “Interpretivist” paradigm stresses the need to put analysis in context. The interpretive paradigm is perturbed with understanding the world as it is from instinctive experiences of individuals. They use meaning (versus measurement) oriented methodologies, such as interviewing or participant observation, that rely on a subjective relationship between the researcher and subjects”. According WALSHAM G (1993) “Interpretive research approach starts from a position, saying “our knowledge is reality” including human behaviour, which is a social construction by human actors and bid equally to researchers. So there is no objective reality which can be discovered by researchers and reproduce by others, in variance to the assumptions of positivist science”.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Micron technologies is an American Global Corporation, founded in 1978 in Boise Idaho in US,  by - Ward Parkinson, Joe Parkinson, Dennis Wilson and Doug Pitman as a semiconductor consultant company for designs, by 1980 micron has turned from consulting to manufacturing with implementation of companies first fabrication plant (“FAB-1”), and in few years later introduced world’s smallest DRAM 256K. By 1985 Micron growth results into an industrial leader with advance technological innovation and with an overall accession around the world. Micron focus their quality reputation by ensuring the quality of products. Micron focus on producing mainly of semiconductor devices.

LITERATURE REVIEW

This Organizational research study focus on the concept “Culture”, and to express how it reflects the employee’s personality and behavior in Micron Technology Singapore. The term Culture means word for people’s “way of Life”. Different people may have different culture according to their tradition, social background etc. In this essay a brief analysis on organizational culture is being discussed, “Organizational Culture is being examined based on how people behave more or less ethically, from successive research organizational culture is classified into to sense – ‘culture as vacillating’ to manage organization and ‘culture as fundamental’ means for conceptualizing organization” Smircich L (1983). Culture is not something which a company has, but it is something which a company is.