The cumulation of incompetence in organizations
- 1 April 1987
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in The Journal of Mathematical Sociology
- Vol. 12 (4) , 347-382
- https://doi.org/10.1080/0022250x.1987.9990020
Abstract
An absorbing Markov chain model with a continuous time parameter is used to describe the effects on organizational efficiency of selection for vacancies by selectors with incomplete information on the candidates. Analytical results indicate that the efficiency decreases to zero, eventually at an exponential rate. Simulation studies for large hierarchical organizations of moderate “steepness” (number of employees per boss) and with moderate accuracy of the selection procedure suggest that the amount of time before a substantial decrease in efficiency occurs is generally large compared to a lifetime.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Conditions for Cooperation in Problematic Social SituationsPublished by Springer Nature ,1986
- Chains of OpportunityPublished by Harvard University Press ,1970