Chester Barnard: Organizations as Networks of People

The video discusses Chester Barnard's contributions to management theory, highlighting his work on organizational networks, communication, and the distinction between efficiency and effectiveness. Barnard's ideas anticipated modern concepts like stakeholder theory and organizational agility. Despite his significant insights, Barnard is not widely recognized due to his dense writing style and lack of academic publications.

Which management thinker is known for his work at AT&T and his focus on organizational interconnectedness?

• Igor Ansoff

• Chester Barnard

• Max Weber

• E Merrick Dodd

What did Chester Barnard believe was necessary for effective organizational communication?

• Hierarchical and rigid channels

• Short and direct channels

• Informal and flexible channels

• Complex and lengthy channels

According to Barnard, what happens to smaller organizations as they grow?

• They become more informal

• They adopt more formality

• They remain agile

• They dissolve into smaller units

What distinction did Chester Barnard make in his writings?

• Between efficiency and effectiveness

• Between strategy and operations

• Between leadership and management

• Between innovation and tradition

Why is Chester Barnard not as well-remembered as other management theorists?

• He never worked in a real organization

• His writing was dense and precise

• His ideas were not visionary

• He focused only on academic theories