Conclusion – Towards New Organizations?

Abstract

Throughout this book, a central theme has been that of the profound, sometimes abrupt, but almost always painful transformation of technical bureaucracies, constructed for the most part on Taylor’s scientific organization of work model. Once again, this trend is not new. It is almost universal in scope, even if the problem takes on different forms according to the specific environments encountered in different nations. Countries differ less in the rigidity of their bureaucracies – and indeed, extreme rigidity is not always on one particular side of the Atlantic as is often thought – than in their ability to question them, whatever the social and human cost. We are dealing with a strong underlying movement which goes beyond private business or public administration.