Definition of Omnipotent and Symbolic view of management?

Omnipotent view: The traditional view of managers is that they have virtually unlimited control over the organization and its purpose, functions and operations and therefore they alone are responsible for all its success and failures. This view is called omnipotent view of management.

Symbolic view: Symbolic view of management is the view that managers have only a limited effect on substantive organizational outcomes because of large number of factors outside their control.

Difference between Omnipotent view and Symbolic view: The difference between omnipotent and symbolic view of management are given below:-

Omnipotent view

Symbolic view

1. Managers are directly responsible for an organization’s success or failure. 2. The quality of the organization is determined by the quality of its managers. 3. The performance of managers influences the organization goals. 4. The ability of managers is to gain success and failure by their good or bad performance. 5. Example: Coaches, Faculties, Group leaders, supervisors etc.

1. Managers are not directly responsible for an organization’s success or failure. 2. The whole control is not on managers, so the quality of the organization is not determined by the quality of its managers. 3. The performance of managers is not influences the organization goals. 4. The ability of managers to affect outcomes is influenced and limited by external factors. 5. Example: The economy, customers, governmental policies, competitors, industry conditions, technology etc.