CAT 1999 — VARC Question 1
Directions: Sentences given in each question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labelled with a letter. Choose the most logical order of the sentences from among the four given choices to construct a coherent paragraph.
- In rejecting the functionalism in positivist organization theory, either wholly or partially, there is often a move towards a political model of organization theory.
- Thus, the analysis would shift to the power resources possessed by different groups in the organization and the way they use these resources in actual power plays to shape the organizational structure.
- At the extreme, in one set of writings, the growth of administrators in the organization is held to be completely unrelated to the work to be done and to be caused totally by the political pursuit of self-interest.
- The political model holds that individual interests are pursued in organizational life through the exercise of power and influence.
Answer & solution
ADBC
- B
CBAD
- C
DBCA
- D
ABDC
ADBC is the correct answer choice. AD is a closelyconnected pair. A introduces the shift from functional model in organization theory to a political model and D defines the political model.
‘Thus’ in B and ‘At the extreme’ in C carry the discussion on the political model further, and C ends by highlighting that the organization structure develops unrelated to functional requirements, in the extreme case.
(b) CBAD also has the linked pair AD, but the overall flow of thoughts is not logical. Starting with A and ending with C takes us logically from rejection of one model to discussion on another, as in ADBC.
(c) DBCA: Though DBC flows smoothly, A at the end is out of place.
(d) ABDC: B intrudes between A and D as we cannot talk of ‘analysis of power resources’ in B, unless we have defined the political model in D first