Discuss how theories of organizational culture can illuminate the Essay

Discuss how theories of organizational culture can illuminate the practice of public sector management. You may use a particular - Essay Example Development of ‘strong’ culture within an organization has become increasingly popular among governments across the world. This paper highlights the attributes of public sector management, organizational politics and strategic management with respect to organizational culture. Furthermore, this paper also examines the theory of organizational change as well as the aspects that bring about effective and enduring change in public sector organizations. Public Sector Management Private and public are the two sectors of economy. While the former deals with private and non- governmental association, the latter refers to government and a mixture of various departments and associations. From managerial point of view, the private sector and the public sector have numerous differences between them. In the twenty- first century, the public sector has experienced a huge growth and development. The traditional model for public sector management was supported bureaucratic practices. E ven- distribution of labor, hierarchy, merit- based employment decision, impersonal work relationships are a few characteristics of this traditional model. However, in modern times, the public sector has been facing challenges as far as management is concerned. This has been the reason for incompetence of public sector when it comes to delivery of public services. Some of the chief reasons why public sector is lagging behind in Australia are- failure of traditional bureaucratic management in a market in relation to non- excludability and non- rival consumption, information imperfections, uneven distribution of resource and wealth, etc. (Aulich, Halligan and Nutley 2001, p. 1- 4) As a matter of fact, the public sector has experienced several economic restructuring. This change was brought about by transformation of administration into management. That is to say, the traditional model that had long been used in public sector got replaced by effective and modernized approach. According to new model, rational economic forces became the chief determinant behind institutional decision- making, dynamics and politics. Much of these reforms were due to bringing in of choice, competition and above all market orientation. All these changes have resulted in remodeling of delivery structure, thus including â€Å"contract agencies, board, voluntary agencies, and the residual public sector†. Therefore, management of public sector has evolved to adopt the entrepreneurial and discretionary style. (Bishop, et al. 2003, p. 4- 5) The public sector has certain characteristic features. Firstly, unlike the private sector, the public sector is led by persons elected by common vote, by following the democratic principles. Secondly, public sector organizations are generally multifunctional. This generates scope for political intervention. Thirdly, though the decision making process is thoroughly influenced by cultural perspective, but is mostly unaffected by shifting demands, an d hence becomes more vulnerable to criticisms. At the same time public sector suffers from conflicting goals, income and profit distribution, etc. (Christensen et. al. 2007, p. 6- 10) Organizational Culture The term ‘organizational culture’ refers to those informal norms and values that become associated with regular business activities. Organizational values are adopted in

Buried bedrock valleys filled with glacial deposits Essay

Buried bedrock valleys filled with glacial deposits - Essay Example As long as there is sufficient water to maintain saturation, the water will descend until it is stopped by some impervious layer, such as rock or highly impervious clay. The water can then flow laterally through the voids or rock crevices above the barrier. If there are significant differences in surface elevation, the water may flow out along the impervious layer at some lower point called a spring. If a hole is made vertically down into the saturated layer, water will flow into the hole. If the saturated layer has sufficient interconnected voids, water will flow through it relatively rapidly. When the saturated layer yields water in economic quantities, it is called an aquifer and the hole made into it could be developed into a well. The lack of resistance to flow through porous material is called permeability. In general, fine grained material such as clay or silt is low in permeability; sand is of medium permeability, and gravel is most permeable. Fractured rock varies in permeab ility depending on the degree and pattern of fracture. The quantity of water which can be stored in an aquifer is equal to the total volume of voids between the solid particles. The fraction of the total volume of an aquifer made up of voids is called porosity. If the voids are interconnected, aquifers of high porosity also tend to have high permeability. Sometimes groundwater is trapped under an impervious layer. An aquifer thus located is called a confined aquifer. If the inflow area to a confined aquifer is higher than the confining layer where a well penetrates it, the water will be under pressure and will rise in the well to some level above the confining layer. Such a well is referred to as artesian. If the water rises to the top of the well a "flowing well" results. Obviously some locations offer better chances for successful wells than others. Clues which can be helpful in selecting well locations are (i) locations and depth to water of existing wells; (ii) existence of springs and/or streams; (iii) relative locations of infiltration areas and rock outcroppings which might constitute an impervious layer; and (iv) existence of known phreatophytes (plants requiring abundant water, whose roots frequently extend to the water table). In some areas of uniform geology, such as certain alluvial deposits in valleys, wells can be constructed anywhere with equal success. In the absence of any clues or data, a test boring can be carried out by one of the methods described under small diameter wells. Such a boring can be carried out relatively quickly and cheaply and can save considerable time, money and frustration in the long run. When a well is pumped, the water in it drops to some level below the static level (Figure 2). The water surface in the aquifer then forms a "cone of depression" as it slopes from the static level at some fairly large radius, R, to the well whose radius is r. If the well completely penetrates the aquifer with the static height of water being H and the height of water during pumping, h, then