Introduction:

The development of understanding of sustainability within organization can be done by review of the two most popular organization theories. These are modernism and postmodernism. These theories could help in understanding the thoughts, views and progress that has been made in the administration of the business process from the 1960’s till date. That is the era after 1960’s is called the modernism while the new age era of business development is called postmodernism. The reason behind is that the way of management, control and employee retention has changed. The organizations of today have evolved such that the changes in the present day environment can be coped and the best utilization of the available resources including the human resources can be made (Cho et al., 2015).

The following will help to understand the sustainability efforts developed within the organization with the two organization theories in application.

Organization theories: Modernism and Postmodernism:

A. Ontology and Epistemology (Positivism vs. Subjectivism):

Modernism theory was developed when the emphasis was made on the Cartesian and cognitive subjects with concentration on universalism and development of concepts on economy, capitalism and economic systems. Postmodernism emphasized on the symbolic and semiotic subjects with concentration on localism and development of concepts on culture, late capitalism and symbolic systems. This way the new age postmodern theory has evolved from modernist theory but has observed huge changes (Powell & Osborne, 2015).

The concept of modernism developed during the 1960’s when the organizations were observing a change in the premier theories of business administration. After the industrial revolution, the changes in the thoughts of administration and utilization of different resources including human resources had become a point of concern. Therefore the theory of modernism evolved. This theory challenged the premodern thoughts in which everything was relied on god and that the church had all the powers. The educated people questioned the set up and hence a new theory based on modern day changing culture was developed. On the other hand the development of concept of postmodernism initiated with the start of the 21^st century. The belief of the people running the business actually evolved from the modernism concept. This brought in huge changes in the administration of the present day organization (Atkins et al., 2015).

B. Effectiveness of Modernism and Postmodernism:

1. Effectiveness of Modernism:

The effectiveness of the modernism theory of organization development is following.

1. Progress:

The modernism theory stated that the organizations are meant to progress towards the stipulated target goals in the fixed period of time. This way the targets were required to beset by the high level management and efforts were made by the other employees of the organization in their accomplishments. This way a consistent progress in the business process was considered as the method to maintain sustenance of the business in the long run.

2. Fixed:

The modernism theory stated that the organization targets, procedures and policies are all required to be fixed by higher level of management. This way a proper code of conduct had to be followed by the employees which are considered feasible by the higher level management.

3. Hierarchy:

Hierarchy was considered as the best method of dealing in daily business. The hierarchy would place different human resources as per qualifications, capability and authority in the organization grid such that the decision making could flow easily. The orders are passed on higher to lower levels and the feedbacks are taken from lower to higher levels.

4. Authority:

The development of authority concept by deploying authorities on different employees was considered important. This way the human resource with the capability, skills and academic qualifications was assigned with the relative authority so that he or she could achieve perfection in particular direction and accomplish the desired goal for the organization.

5. Truth:

The truth was considered as the best method of achieving faith and confidence within the organization. Therefore efforts were made by the organization to maintain transparency in the business operation. Be it with the shareholders or employees, the procedure followed in the organization, the profit earned and the decision making were all reported to the concerned personnel and groups to maintain their faith in the organization.

6. The Author:

The higher level management within the organization was considered as the author of the whole organization process. That is the organization and its employees will follow the mission and vision statement developed by the higher level management. This way the higher management was the guiding force of the organization.

7. Pro Formalism:

Pro Formalism was considered as the best form of business operation and development. That is the formal methods of application, business process and other related would support the development of the business in the proper format as per the guidelines and procedures set for the organization.

8. Absolute:

The targets kept by the organization were absolute and in terms of figures that were estimated through various tools of statistics. These targeted figures were actually tried to be achieved by the joint efforts of the human resources in the organization. The accomplishment of these targets denoted that the available resources were utilized at their best.

2. Effectiveness of concept of Postmodernism:

The effectiveness of concept of Postmodernism includes the followings.

1. Circulation:

Earlier it was considered that the organizations were meant to accomplish the stipulated pace of progress but this though observed huge change with the concept of circulation. That is now it is considered that the circulation of money, goods, services, better performances is the main motive of any business. Therefore instead of just growing the business, the efforts are now made on evolving the business such that the sustenance can be assured in the long run.

2. Random:

The concept of random achievement as per the changing business environment is now applied in the business administration process as per the postmodernism theory. The businesses are therefore allowed to decide their course of action and select the best alternative so that the future can be ascertained and the business accomplishment can be observed towards the wherewithal and growth of the business in the long run.

3. Collapse:

The new age postmodern theory supports the collapse of the hierarchy system in which the senior was considered authorized to exploit juniors for the accomplishment of target goals. However the new theory of postmodernism considers hierarchy as the method to exploit the juniors and with no extra gains retrieved by the organization itself. Therefore the hierarchy needs to be abolished and every employee needs to work in one alignment of the authority for the accomplishment of targeted goals. This way the maximum utilization of the available human resource can be achieved without any exploitation of junior human resource.

4. Contention:

The postmodernism theory does not believe in authority setting and following blindly. Instead the new theory wants the contention to occur so that the outcome could convince and evolve the best method of doing the business. This way instead of blindly following the orders the new theory advocates the discussion and arguments process so that the best method of administration can be revealed.

5. No truth:

In modernism age, the truth was considered to be achieved through transparency in the business process, however in the new age postmodernism; it is considered that no truth actually exists. That is every party or human resource is looking for the personal benefit, so the only truth is success, profits and benefit.

6. The Reader:

As per the postmodernism, the higher level management has now to shift from being the author to reader. That is, the high level management should now sit back and let the organization evolve instead of placing their years old thoughts as restrictions on them. This way they should observe the changes required in the business environment and become a reader who understands the evolution and let the organization change for the best.

7. Anti-Formalism:

The concept of postmodernism actually applies ant formalism in the work place. This new age thought considers that formalism actually brings in distance between the two people. Therefore the concept of formalism should be removed completely.

8. Relative:

Postmodernism believes that the organizations are not required to achieve absolute targets benefits in the given time frame; instead they need to accomplish relative outcomes. That is with the passage of time and change in environment, the goals of the organizations changes and so should their targets. Thus the main motive should be the sustenance of the business in the long run.

C. Organization culture and environment affected by the concepts on sustainability:

The concept of modernism and post modernism can be compared on different grounds. Firstly the modernism evolved in the 1960’s in the last century, while postmodernism evolved with the start of the new century (Ortega, 2010). The modernism theory brought a change from thoughts of depending on god and decisions of church to decisions taken by the educated and politically powerful people. Postmodernism took the limelight from the educated and politically powerful people to the common people and gave the idea of self-enrichment and self-accomplishment as the basis of life (Atkins et al., 2015). The theory of modernism and postmodernism are actually the depiction of the evolution of human resource and their thoughts. The humans have evolved rapidly in the past few decades. After the industrial revolution the development pace around the globe has increased (Cho et al., 2015). This has brought world together and made one single village. Therefore with the passage of time the development of theories are observed through which more humanly applications in the regular organization process are observed. The shift from premodernism to modernism and then postmodernism is actually a shift to a more humanly thoughts in the regular business application. Through the application of new age postmodernism concepts in the organization the efforts are made to achieve social subjects. That is through the development of social determinism the efforts are made to achieve social benefits and serve humanity (Ortega, 2010). The concept of coexistence within the organization following collectivism is therefore developing helping the decision makers to seriously consider the human factors other than just profits and gains (Cho et al., 2015).

The differences between the two concepts of organization development can be stated as below.

Modernism	Postmodernism
Progress	Circulation
Fixed	Random
Hierarchy	Collapse
Authority	Contention
Truth	No truth
The Author	The Reader
Pro Formalism	Anti-Formalism
Absolute	Relative
Naturalism	Antirealism
Experience and reason	Social subjects
Autonomy and integration	Social determinism and reductionism
Individualism	Collectivism
Liberal capitalism	Socialism

Modernism theory was developed when the emphasis was made on the Cartesian and cognitive subjects with concentration on universalism and development of concepts on economy, capitalism and economic systems. Postmodernism emphasized on the symbolic and semiotic subjects with concentration on localism and development of concepts on culture, late capitalism and symbolic systems (Cho et al., 2015). This way the new age postmodern theory has evolved from modernist theory but has observed huge changes. Under modernism theory the targets kept by the organization were absolute and in terms of figures that were estimated through various tools of statistics. These targeted figures were actually tried to be achieved by the joint efforts of the human resources in the organization. The accomplishment of these targets denoted that the available resources were utilized at their best (Guang & Trotter, 2012). On the other hand, Postmodernism believes that the organizations are not required to achieve absolute targets benefits in the given time frame; instead they need to accomplish relative outcomes. That is with the passage of time and change in environment, the goals of the organizations changes and so should their targets. Thus the main motive should be the sustenance of the business in the long run (Atkins et al., 2015).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the concept of modernism and post modernism can be compared on different grounds. Firstly the modernism evolved in the 1960’s in the last century, while postmodernism evolved with the start of the new century. The modernism theory brought a change from thoughts of depending on god and decisions of church to decisions taken by the educated and politically powerful people. Postmodernism took the limelight from the educated and politically powerful people to the common people and gave the idea of self-enrichment and self-accomplishment as the basis of life.