Typological Approach to Organizational Climates : A Contingency View

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify the particular internal climates of a public welfare agency, to observe and analyze relationships between the normmative typology of sub-climates and characteristic variables identified within each, and to posit a "mode" for their relationships as they are manifested between each sub-climate. Also, the study has postulated three internal climates which exist simultaneously in complex public organizations. These are the mechanistic, the humanistic, and the self-renewing sub-climates: in their totality they constitute the climate of the organization. Specifically, this study has undertaken the following: 1. The identification of structural dimensions which create unique sub-climates within an organization and classification of different typologies of organizational sub-climates, 2. The identification of what typical relationships prevail between such sub-climates; characteristic organizational variables such as assigned tasks, effectiveness criteria, and orientation of individual workers; and the manner in which these relationships have affected overall organizational effectiveness. 3. The testing of assumptions regarding the relevancy of organizaiton and management theory as it applies to a social welfare agency and advocate a contingency view of managing and administering public sector organization.