TVA and the Grass Roots¶
Selznick, P. (1949). TVA and the Grass Roots: A Study in the Sociology of Formal Organization. University of California Press.
Cited by¶
2 citations across 2 artifacts.
Each citation links to the sentence it supports in the citing article.
Primes¶
- Formal vs. Informal Structures
- The causal analysis of why the informal structure has its current shape (what formal inadequacies or historical patterns produced it) and design implications for improving fit
This sourceClassic study of how a formal organization's informal structure takes its actual shape under environmental pressure, coining 'informal cooptation' to explain why emergent practice diverges from official design; supports the causal analysis of why the informal structure has its current shape (re-sourced; replaces Weick 1995, which concerns retrospective meaning-making and does not address the origins of informal structure).
- The causal analysis of why the informal structure has its current shape (what formal inadequacies or historical patterns produced it) and design implications for improving fit
Mechanisms¶
- Advisory Group
- Philip Selznick named this dynamic: absorbing outside representatives can neutralize opposition rather than genuinely share influence.
This sourceApplied to advisory bodies, it warns that seating representatives can neutralize opposition while giving the appearance of shared influence, which is why representativeness must be actively maintained.
- Philip Selznick named this dynamic: absorbing outside representatives can neutralize opposition rather than genuinely share influence.
Verification¶
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