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Sociology and Space, Vol. 57 No. 1 (213), 2019.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.57.1.4

Bureaucracy and Creative Complexity – Empirical Analysis of Problem Solving Effectiveness Within Organizations

Eva Bolfíková ; University of Prešov, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Andragogy, Slovak Republic
Ivana Pirohová ; University of Prešov, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Andragogy, Slovak Republic
Martina Lenhardtová ; University of Prešov, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Andragogy, Slovak Republic
Katarína Mayer ; University of Prešov, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Andragogy, Slovak Republic
Marek Lukáč ; University of Prešov, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, Department of Andragogy, Slovak Republic
Daniela Hrehová ; Technical University, Department of Social Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic

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Abstract

The study presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of bureaucratic and
non-bureaucratic tools of problem solving within organizations that are perceived as
complex adaptive systems. Drawing upon Stacey’s theory of creative complexity, we
created a research framework by developing five indicators (dimensions): disintegration,
irregularity, instability, disruption, and deviation (each of these indicators was
further operationalized into six items of the questionnaire). With the research hypothesis
in mind, we analysed the inclination towards the decision-making following
the logic of bureaucracy (linear environment) on one hand, and the logic of creative complexity on the other. The level of inclination was analysed in comparison to the
problem solving effectiveness performing repeated measures MANOVA - (intersubject
factor – EFFECT: 1. successful 2. unsuccessful). The participants in this study were
743 employees from various organizations. The questionnaire method K-T-1 was employed
in this research. The results of the analysis indicate that the problem solving
success rate is significantly differentiated in three dimensions: irregularity, instability
and deviation. A higher inclination towards creative complexity was determined in
two dimensions: deviation and regularity. A higher success rate of problem solving
following the logic of bureaucracy was determined in the dimension of instability.

Keywords

bureaucracy; complex adaptive system; organization; creative complexity

Hrčak ID:

219743

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/219743

Publication date:

25.4.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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