Question

3. What makes some tasks more complex than others, according to Charles Perrow?

Give an example of an organization that uses each of Perrow’s four types of technology, and justify your choices (e.g., which activities or products of the organization demonstrate the technology?).

Answer 1

answer-

Task variability is the factor which makes tasks more complex than others because There are number of exceptions new or unexepcted found by employees or workers in the organization which makes tasks more complex. the more the exception in the task the more complex and non repeatitive task become.

For example- In Fast food restaurant, Task variability is low because each employee know about task and do same in repeat manner like taking order, making order, payment etc. so task are not complex because there are very very less exception.

Charles Perrow used task variability and analyzability to differentiate amongst the following four types of technology -

Routine Manufacturing – Low task variability and high task analyzability and commonly used in mass production facilities ex car manufacturers; Henry Ford mass produces cars .

Craftswork – Low task variability and low task analyzability ex. Upholstery Furniture Company – Barrymore Furniture – crafts each individual piece of furniture from beginning to end .

Engineering Production - High task variability and high task analyzability ex. Civil Engineering Firm – AECON Technology Corporation

Nonroutine Research - High task variability and low task analyzability The example like Science labs or government research institution performing high tech R&D.