Scott defines three levels of analysis in organizational research:
Social Psychological Level -- organizational characteristics are
context or environment, and investigator explores their impact on attitudes
or behavior of individuals.
ex. Katz and Kahn 1978, Porter, Lawler, & Hackman (1975)
Structural Level -- try to explain structural features and social
processes that characterize organizations and subdivisions (subunits, work
groups, rank groups) or analytical components (specialization, communication
networks, hierarchy).
ex. Udy 1959, Blau and Schoenherr 1971
Ecological Level - examine relation of single or multiple organizations
to their environment (Selznick 1949) or relations that develop between organizations
(Pfeffer and Salancick 1978)\
Parsons distinguishes three major levels of organizational
structure: At the bottom is the technical system, where the actual
product is manufactured (workers, teachers in classrooms, scientists in
labs, etc.). Above this is the managerial system, who mediate between
the organization and the task environment and administer the internal affairs.
At the top is the institutional system, whose function is to relate
the organization to the larger society.