Sociologist Alvin Gouldner discusses manifest and latent roles in organizational structures, highlighting the importance of understanding hidden role identities. The podcast explores the intersection of sociology and management studies, the dynamics of social identities within organizations, and the unique context of academic studies compared to practical settings. Gouldner's research at Moll University and the differentiation between cosmopolitan and local roles are also discussed, shedding light on the impact of manifest roles on latent roles in organizations.
Manifest roles pertain to official positions, while latent roles encompass hidden identities influencing behavior.
Distinction between cosmopolitans and locals aids in understanding commitment, loyalty, and professional dynamics in organizations.
Deep dives
Distinction Between Manifest and Latent Roles
Alvin Gouldner argues about the distinction between manifest and latent roles, highlighting the significance of hidden identities in influencing group behavior. Manifest roles represent formal official roles, while latent roles encompass informal identities with substantial impact on organizational dynamics and individual behavior.
Concept of Cosmopolitan and Locals
Gouldner introduces the concept of cosmopolitan and locals as two categories based on commitment levels, loyalty to the organization, and professional skills. Cosmopolitans exhibit lower commitment to the organization, preferring external networks, while locals are deeply committed and loyal, favoring internal networks and the organization itself.
Empirical Analysis of Role Types
In part two of the study, Gouldner defines four types of locals and two types of cosmopolitans, such as the true bureaucrat, home guard, and outsiders. He delves into how these role types impact formal organizations and informal relations, showcasing the complexities of latent roles within organizational dynamics.
Challenges in Generalizability and Practical Application
The study raises questions about the generalizability of the findings beyond academia and the broader context of management studies. While the distinctions between cosmopolitan and locals offer insights into role identities in organizations, the context-specific nature of the research limits its transferability to diverse organizational settings.
Alvin Gouldner wrote the article, “Cosmopolitans and locals: Toward an analysis of latent social roles” in 1957 to propose that through the 1950s latent roles had been seriously overlooked by scholars. Manifest roles, described as those roles and role identities that are directly related to one’s defined position in the organizational structure, had been the sole focus. Latent roles comprised the complementary roles that members made salient but were not officially recognized. Instead, managers might dismiss such roles as “irrelevant, inappropriate, or illegitimate” to recognize formally despite them being essential in the organization’s social fabric.
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