Malloy and Lang

Aristotelian Approach to Case Study

The traditional, and possibly accepted view is a 'rational' positivistic view of organisational behaviour.

The kindof anti-example is the Ford Pinto, where there was a fault, but they carried on regardless with production. This could be seen as a reason for something more than a cost-benefit analysis - especially considering the lack of ethics involved.

To analyse the factors which influence organisational behaviour in a comprehensive manner, we need to extend our knowledge to a higher epistomological level. - TRANSRATIONAL.

Essentially 4 elements to the Metaphysics of Aristotle.

Material Cause - out of which something is made
Formal Cause - that into which something is made
Efficient cause - that by which something is made
Final cause - that for the sake of which something is made

Eg. a shoe - leather is material cause, the form that the shoe takes is the formal cause, the cobbler is the efficient cause of the shoe, supporting the cobblers family is the final cause.

Aristotle did not mean for the First Principle and the Four Cause to be used in an administrative context.