Formal And Informal Organization of Work

Sociology is nothing but the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociology includes various aspects of the society such as crime, religion, family, state, analysis of different castes and races and other social classes, reforms within institutions, and social stability. The gist of sociology is inclined towards understanding how human actions are affected by cultural and social surroundings. Sociology is the subject that puts light on issues related to our personal matters and related to our community. To understand sociology in a deeper way, we need to understand what social organization is. There are two types of social organizations, namely; Formal Organization of work and Informal Organization of work.

Types of Social Organizations in detail: Formal Organization of work

Let us start with what Formal Organization of work is. Formal organization is the management in the form of a hierarchy of authority. There is a well-defined structure of authority and procedure of an organization. There are rules and regulations of an organization along with a set of predefined responsibilities for each member of the organization. Due to this appropriately oriented structure of the organization, the process of work becomes smooth and systematic. Just a few examples are businesses, schools, churches, and hospitals.

Characteristics of Formal organization of Work

• The formal organization of work consists of people who usually have a formal relationship with each other, and they are bound together with a certain set of rules and code of conduct which they have to strictly follow in order to be a part of the organization. Thus, the behaviour of the individuals totally depends on the policies of the organization
• There is a defined way of communicating to the higher authorities. For the lower divisions to communicate with the top authorities of the organization, the communication is usually formal and maybe a little time-consuming
• The members of the organization have a right to keep their opinion and views in front of the authority. However, the final decision is made by the highest authority. The authority and power to make decisions come from the position of the individual
• Discipline, efficiency, and consistency of performance of the organization usually remain constant as the roles of the individuals who contribute to the progress of the organization are predefined, and they know what they are supposed to do. Hence, there is no room for a major change in regard to the performance and efficiency of the organization
• Primary focus of the organization is on how the work needs to be done rather than focusing on interpersonal relationships and networking

The easiest example of a Formal Organization of work could be the National Human rights commission. There is a proper hierarchy of authorities and a linear way of communication from the lower divisions to the highest authority. Each member is well-aware of their roles and responsibilities, which are predefined by the organization. Hence, if something goes wrong in a particular department of the organization, the person who is responsible for that particular department is to be held responsible for the mistake, and it becomes easier for the higher authorities to take action against any irresponsible behaviour. The organization is very clear about what the goals are to be achieved.

Informal Organization of Work:

Informal organization of work does not have a particular structure, just like Formal Organization of work. It is less rigid, and the relationship between the individuals is more interactive. The members of this organization do not have to follow a certain rulebook or have a set of predefined responsibilities.

Characteristics of Informal Organization of work:

• Informal Organization of work focuses more on the mutual relationship between the employees. There is no hierarchy to be followed by the employees in contrast to the Formal organization of work
• The line of communication does not have any proper channel. Hence, every employee can give his or her opinion in a meeting, and they are empowered to talk about topics freely in a more interactive manner. This is the reason why communication in Informal organizations is swifter and faster amongst the employees. It emphasizes more on openness and freedom of expression, due to which the employees can express their thoughts and ideas in a better way
• All the decisions pertaining to the organization are made collectively. Collective decisions are given more importance in the Informal Organization of work. The qualities of the leadership are judged by his or her personal connections and relationships with others
• Informal Organization of work is continually evolving on all fronts. It is more flexible in terms of setting goals. Such organizations are adaptable to change and are more dynamic in nature as compared to Formal organizations
• Social interactions are given more emphasis in Informal Organization of work. These social interactions give a sense of togetherness as people associate themselves with others socially. The members of Informal Organization are satisfied socially
• A very good example of an Informal Organization of work could be a student’s club of sports or any other activity wherein the students have the freedom of expression, and they can elect their leader by their own choice. As the existing student members of the organization pass out from school or college and the new students become the members of the club, the goal of the club changes with the new thoughts and new ideas of the new student members

Conclusion

It is essential to know the nature of Formal and Informal organizations of work in order to get into the depth of Sociology as a subject. Sociologists research the changing patterns of these organizations to have deep insight into the social problems and prospects in the contemporary world. Students who are trained in sociology analyse the human behavioural patterns and their social life. Sociology enhances our outlook towards social relationships, cultures, and institutions, which contribute in a huge way to our lives and human history.