These are the structural, the human-resource, the political and the symbolic perspectives. From the structural perspective organizations are seen as instruments for goal attainment. Formal roles, relations and activities are highlighted. Given a certain situation some organizational forms are considered more appropriate than others. Problems are seen as the consequence of a misfit between the situation factors and the formal structure.
Solutions thus focus on reorganization.
From the human-resource perspective organizations are seen as consisting of people. The need of adapting the organization to people is emphasized. Problems are seen as the result of neglecting human needs. From the political perspective organizations are seen as an arena for power struggles. Coalitions with different interests and different values compete in an organization over scarce resources.