High school and the workplace fall into this category-one joined in pursuit of a diploma, the other in order to make money. The third type is utilitarian organizations, which, as the name suggests, are joined because of the need for a specific material reward. These may include prison or a rehabilitation center. Coercive organizations are groups that are forced to join.

The Audubon Society and a ski club are examples of normative organizations. As the name suggests, joining them is voluntary and typically done because people find membership rewarding in an intangible way. Normative organizations, also called voluntary organizations, are based on shared interests. Sociologist Amitai Etzioni (1975) posited that formal organizations fall into three categories. (Photo (a) courtesy of moonlightbulb/flickr Photo (b) courtesy of CxOxS/flickr) Girl Scout troops and correctional facilities are both formal organizations. Weber’s ideal-type is a model or a collection of characteristics that could describe most examples of the item under discussion. We will discuss bureaucracies as an ideal-type of organization. Sociologist Max Weber developed a conceptual framework to help us understand formal organizations and to work on moving from the particular (“I had this experience with my cell phone service provider”) to the general (“Formal organizations have similar characteristics such as…”). What is it like to track down a health insurance billing question? Have you ever tried to get technical support on a computer or cell phone? How long did it take and how many different times were you placed on hold? If you went back to the store where you purchased the device, were you asked to wait in line? Does your college or university have a streamlined process for questions related to advising or financial aid? From schools to businesses to healthcare to government, these organizations, referred to as formal organizations, often leave us feeling like a cog in a machine.

Explain the different types of formal organizationsĪ complaint of modern life is that society is dominated by large and impersonal organizations.

Non-Formal education has a more informal environment and is aimed at a different audience group while a formal education is more precise in their approach.Įach concept of education has its strengths, and it depends on the purpose of your educational outreach which will decide the kind of training you need.

In the latter, the events have to be completed on the same day for a more effective outcome.

The activities in a classroom-based educational program can last for more than one day which is not the case with the non-formal educational program.

The former have training in teaching strategies, management of the classroom, content-based teaching methods, etc., while the latter is more focused on group management and content expertise as they deal with different age groups and in various disciplines.

The knowledge and experience of classroom teachers and that of teachers in the non-formal education settings vary vastly.

The content and curriculum of the non-formal education is however not sacrosanct and can be changed to match with the learning curve of the students. In a formal setting, teachers have to stick to the predefined curriculum, and there is no scope for including non-traditional content, and they have to meet with the standards of today’s education.Also, the attendance on the non-formal setup is not consistent, and the teachers also change every time. In case of a non-formal setting, there is no definitive curriculum every year as it varies based on learner’s requirement. In a formal setting, the attendance is compulsory for both teachers and kids, which means it will have the same set of teachers and a curriculum.There are no specific age inclusions or other exclusions in the target group for non-formal education groups.ĭifference between formal and non-formal education When education is delivered systemically in a structured environment like school and university by teachers who are trained in the profession, it is referred to as formal education.Īn organized educational activity, which is out of the preview of the formal education system, more centered on the learner than a general curriculum, is called as non-formal education. Formal and non-formal education is two different concepts with each having its characteristics and purpose.

Education in different languages implies the same meaning, which is to bring forth the best qualities and abilities in a person.

Different types of non formal education