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Public Adminstration QUESTION #9541
Question 1
Barnard's theory of organizational authority proposed that the source of authority is not the top of the hierarchy but rather the bottom. What is the precise concept he used, and what practical implication does it carry for public managers?
  • Zone of indifference — managers should issue orders within employees' tolerance range to ensure compliance✔️
  • Hawthorne effect — workers comply when given attention and feel special to management
  • Limited rationality — managers must accept that employees will only partially comply due to cognitive constraints
  • Scalar principle — authority must flow through a clearly defined chain to reach the subordinate
Correct Answer Explanation
Barnard argued that a subordinate ultimately chooses to accept or reject orders. He identified three zones: rejection, acceptance, and indifference. The practical implication is that managers must keep orders within the zone of indifference (or expand the zone of acceptance) by managing the cooperative relationship — rather than relying solely on formal authority.