Traditional approach allows the management to devise the way to perform a task. It is applied where adequate information of performing a task is readily available. It is also suitable for a task which requires less creativity on part of the worker. The weakness of the approach is that, it negates the ability of workers to built on their experience and improve the process of carrying out their duties.
The processual approach allows workers to built on their experience and improve the performance of their duties. It is mainly applied in situations which the internal and external environment is in a constant state of change. In addition, the information available of performing a duty may be so complex for management to conceptualize. It is not a suitable method for jobs which are quite simple because workers trial and error method of devising better ways of performing a task may only result to increases production costs and errors.
Introduction
Traditional approach makes sure that the management lies down steps required to perform a task. The assumption made is that there is no better way of carrying out the stated duty. Workers are recruited and trained on the right way to perform a job. This works very well in situations which the management understands the entire process effectively.
Procesual approach gives room for workers to devise better ways of carrying out a duty. The workers improve their out comes over time as they gain experience. The management is unable to devise the procedure of carrying out the activities because of complexity of the information involved. This approach is not effective for very simple tasks. (Richard , Nick and Mark, n.d).
Processual approach is appropriate for complex tasks but as tasks becomes clear traditional approach can be utilized, but, room should be left for workers to create better ways of carrying out their duties.
Traditional approach describes a situation where the entire way (steps) in which a job is done is put in place. Therefore they assume that there is only one efficient way in which a job should be done. Therefore traditional approach holds that there is ideal way which is the efficient way in which every task in organization should be done. Therefore altering the process will undermine the results and increase the production cost. (John and Paul, 2003).
In traditional approach the end product features are identified then professionals design the steps which should be followed to get the desired results. They identify the number of steps required, the sequence of the stated steps, the resources to be used in each step, how multiple steps can be managed as well as the personnel required in performance of each step. (Kurt, 2004).
When traditional approach is followed it means that the organization follows planned, clear and deliberate process in its activities with the sole aim of maximizing profits. This approach is fruitful when the end product can be clearly defined and identified, the information required is available and is reliable and the professionals involved in crafting the process can analyze the information and factor in any foreseeable changes. This will enable the decision makers to come up with the best way of performing to do a job.
This approach entails the top management making all the relevant decision while the junior members implement. The traditional approach has the main assumption that management is more effective in formulating methods of performing a job. The management breaks the entire work in steps so as to simplify the process of training workers, to make it possible to easily substitute workers and easy the process of supervising workers.
In this approach managers seek to hire the employees with the relevant skills, train them to adjust to fine job details then formulate their reward system which reflects their out puts. The manager consider how to minimize costs, technicalities of each task which calls for machine specification as well as workers skill then finally the relationship between workers and the management.
This approach is quit beneficial for simple tasks which the management can easily comprehend the process and devise the best way to perform them. It standardizes the entire process avoiding inefficiency which new inexperience employees may bring.
Traditional approach is quite efficient where the process is not complex and where adequate knowledge on performance of a task is available. (John and Paul, 2003).
This approach makes sure that the workers coordinates as required when performing and if one worker leaves the organization can hire a new worker who can be as efficient as the old one. The management is able to individual person accountable for poor out come by identifying the person who failed to follow the specified instructions.
However, the worker does not understand the logic behind several tasks being performed. The tasks are cumulative and irreversible thus if there is an error in the process then the worker cannot identify and rectify it as required.
The greatest weakness of the traditional approach is the assumption that the method which the management considers appropriate is blindly followed with the assumption that the out put will be of the highest quality. This should not be always the case because workers may be able to generate better ideas with time.
Types of jobs which the traditional approach is appropriate are those which do not need a lot of workers skills and self thinking e.g. packing of end products. This approach is not appropriate for artistic jobs such as drawing.
Processual approach is quit different from the traditional approach because it brings a scenario where managers are not sure of the out put required because of complexity of tasks involved. The managers cannot devise the procedure in which tasks are to be performed due to lack of adequate clear information on how to carry out the task. The strategy to perform a task becomes clear as the product is being developed. These therefore call for negotiating, learning and compromising.
Processual approach is permitted in a firm because the management is unable to conceptualize the entire information needed to perform a task, external environment which affects the tasks to be performed keeps on changing and management motive of letting workers devise method appropriate to perform the job. Management is thus forced to accept what reality offers. The result of this process is increased workers satisfaction and coalition forming between workers and management.
Processual looks at change as a continuous process but not events which can be linearly arranged and the out come is dependent on involvement of every one in decision making regarding the best alternative to be adopted. It therefore provides comprehensive analysis and understanding of change retro. (Patrick, 2005).
Processual approach differs from traditional in the sense that, traditional approach is a linear theory of management where by the entire steps are known which should lead to some specified out come. This means that workers are engaged mechanically and altruistically to attain the stated goals. While in processual approach, employees are allowed to try new ways thus it appreciates conflicting rational models as well as objectives and behaviors.
Processual approach helps the management to deal with jobs and situations that are complex such that the management cannot solve with out involving workers; motivates employees because they can modify their task to perform them efficiently; Local mangers are given a chance to respond to local problems thus minor problems never draw the attention of top managers; employees play a role in reducing costs by performing task more efficiently ;and prepare junior workers for management due to their involvement in decision making. (Kurt, 2004)
In traditional approach the interest is on the results i.e. the out come but not how better outcome can be obtained. On the other hand, processual approach aims at generating pool of knowledge on the process, out come and why different processes lead to different outcomes. Processual approach accepts the fact that human actions are capable of bringing about change when allowed to think on better ways of achieving some objectives. It accepts that the cumulative nature of human knowledge allows him to build on past experience to improve future experience. That is why the process is important for its understanding will lead to better out comes in future. (Richard , Nick and Mark, n.d).
Processual theory allows workers to explore the past ways they used in relation to haw they are presently carrying out duties and try to search for ways to improve their processes so as to get better out comes in future. Therefore, the entire organization benefit from the insight generated by the worker. (Joni and Pekka, n.d.). (whetten, 1989) argued that, it is possible to add or even subtract some concept from what was previous term as ideal in order to apply an old model in a changing environment.
Processual approach is suitable where the out come is not clear, the process is quit complex and the knowledge on how to perform the task is insufficient. Therefore the worker is allowed to develop ideas on how out come can be improved.
Processual approach is appropriate for jobs which require self thinking of workers like artistic jobs and architectural jobs for example designing a building. (John and Paul, 2003).
Traditional approach is not appropriate in many activities because it does not give the worker opportunity to try new ways. This method should not however be totally done away with because some activities are very obvious in the extent that there is little room for improvement of the existing method. In such jobs try and error method will on lead to over run production costs.
Processual approach should be emphasized for jobs which are very new but as adequate knowledge is gathered traditional approach can slowly be applied. (Kurt, 2004)
Though management is usually under total control when traditional approach is utilized a room should always be created for works to suggest better ideas of carrying out a job. This avoids simplest application of traditional approach by acknowledging that better ways can be devised.
Conclusion
Traditional approach is a suitably applied where management has entire knowledge required to perform a job. It enables management to have total control on the activities and avoids trial and error methods of performing activities which may only lead to increased production cost. It is quit appropriate where workers self knowledge and creativity is very crucial for improvement of the outcome. It does not motivate workers because they are not allowed to devise better ways of performing a job.
Processual approach is allows workers to built on their prior experience to devise better ways of carrying out a job. The management cannot comprehend the entire process meaning that they cannot devise single way of performing the activity. The process is motivating because it allows workers to be creative and control the activities.
The de motivating aspect of traditional approach arises by simplicity way of its application. Therefore it should not be totally despised because it as more knowledge of performing a task is acquired the management can come into a consensus on which way was appropriate.
The processual approach should always be emphasized though when adequate knowledge is acquired traditional approach should be carried along side processual approach.
References
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Joni T. and Pekka T., n.d. studying change and dynamic in business relationships-the processual case study
Kurt L., 2004. The planned approach to change A Re-appraisal .Journal of Management Studies, 41, pp66-126
Patrick M.d, 2005.changing manufacturing process: appraisal of the processual approach. Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au last accessed on8th April, 2011
Richard J., Nick R., and Mark F., n.d. Aprocessual approach. Retrieved from http://www.blackwellpublishing.comlast accessed on8th April, 2011
Whetten D. A., 1989. “What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution?”. Academy of
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