Industrial Revolution, Imperialism, and Management Theories: a summary

Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution refers to the wave of technological, economic, and social changes taking place during the nineteenth century. Although fueled by new technology, the industrial revolution had a tremendous effect on society. The Industrial Revolution led to urbanization, social class stratification, and the capitalist market economy.
One feature of the Industrial Revolution was the newfound ability to mass-produce goods. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, any machine that was used to aid manufacturing, such as a loom or the cotton gin, could only be used by a single individual producing one thing at a time (“Industrial Revolution,” n.d. 1). Such machines were unable to produce goods in large quantity in a short period of time. With the advent of large-scale machinery powered by technologies like coal, it was possible to bring products to market faster and cheaper.
Factories also expanded their labor forces to allow them to produce products faster and quicker. An increased demand for labor led to the mass migration of people from the rural areas to cities, a process known as urbanization (“Industrial Revolution,” n.d.). Urbanization created tremendous and lasting changes to the fabric of society. On the one hand, the process of urbanization helped improve the standard of living for some people who now had access to viable work. Women, who were once excluded from the labor force, were now working and therefore able to empower themselves financially and politically (“Industrial Revolution,” n.d.). On the other hand, urbanization also led to the overcrowding of cities and to increased class conflicts.
The nineteenth-century Industrial Revolution created new economic, social, and political opportunities. Although characterized mainly by advancements in technology, the Industrial Revolution was more important in the effects it had on transforming the society.
Imperialism
Imperialism refers to the political and territorial expansion of powers by any means, including use of force. Generally the term is used in a derogatory way, to describe what “occurs when a strong nation takes over a weaker nation or region and dominates its economic, political, and cultural life,” (“What is Imperialism?” n.d. ,p. 1). Imperialism and its counterpart, colonialism, were commonly practiced until the twentieth century but still occurs to a degree today.
One of the driving forces behind imperialism is the desire to access raw materials and human resources. If an imperial power, like Britain was for centuries, had sufficient wealth and manpower, it could send envoys to foreign lands. The imperial power would then use whatever means necessary to access the natural and human resources in those foreign lands, such as by forming strategic alliances or by using force.
The effects of imperialism can be devastating, including genocide and environmental degradation. Imperialism is classified by its being exploitative. Rather than forming partnerships on equal footing, the imperialist seeks to overtake previously sovereign lands and their people. The imperialist government establishes its own subsidiaries and delegitimizes local customs, norms, and institutions. For example, the British Empire extended its reach throughout the world—from the Americas to Asia. Imperialism has been practiced by a number of nations, including Japan and Portugal. The process of colonialism is the cultural counterpart of imperialism, whereby the dominant power imposes its language and way of life, denigrating indigenous peoples and often leading to outright genocide.
Imperialism was a defining feature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but its results can still be felt today. Imperialism occurs when a wealthy and powerful political entity seeks to expand its territorial acquisitions for economic or political purposes, with no regard for human sovereignty.
Management Theories
Management theories influence organizational culture and organizational structure. The most common theories of management include systems theory, contingency theory, and chaos theory, although other theories are equally as applicable to the workplace. Management theory has a strong bearing on measurable performance outcomes as well as employee satisfaction (Hawthorne, n.d.). Therefore, organizations need to choose management theories that align with their business’s core values.
Systems theory takes into account the interrelated nature of business operations. It is a popular management theory because managers can coordinate activities that involve multiple departments working together towards common goals. Because it takes into account the overall needs of the organization, systems theory can be more effective than theories that fragment the organization into individual departments (Hawthorne, n.d.).
Contingency theory suggests that managers should change their approach according to the situation or needs of the organization. Organizations that are more effective when they have a hierarchical structure would need a different type of managerial style than an organization that is flat (Hawthorne, n.d.). Contingency theory can be applied to organizational behavior in general, but is less effective at showing how individual companies behave.
Theory X and Theory Y, on the other hand, does apply to individual organizations. Theory X and Theory Y are based on employee motivation, a psychological characteristic (Hawthorne, n.d.). Theory X refers to a managerial style that is autocratic, based on the assumption workers are lazy and need extrinsic motivation. Theory Y, on the other hand, empowers the worker more through intrinsic motivation.
Leaders can apply management theories to their organizations. With management theories, leaders can make decisions that can impact overall effectiveness and performance. The management style needs to fit the needs and goals of the organization.





References

Hawthorne, M. (n.d.). Management theories and concepts at the workplace. The Chronicle. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/management-theories-concepts-workplace-17693.html
“Industrial Revolution,” (n.d.). History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution
“What is Imperialism?” (n.d.). https://edtech2.boisestate.edu/lockwoodm/Imperialism/WhatIs.htm