The organisational structure of Spanish New Settlements in the eighteenth century

Abstract

This paper analyses the organisational design of New Settlements (NS) of Sierra Morena, a Spanish farming and colonist project of the eighteenth century. Using archival data, historical facts during the period 1767–1772 are identified, collected and examined to understand how these settlements were structured. The reconstructions of their practices demonstrated that, in the eighteenth century, organisations already had the disciplinary techniques and dimensions of Weber's rational-legal bureaucracy. In fact, we observed the evolution of NS through three different organisational structures (configurations) to become more effective – rational – over time. This comprehensive analysis also provides evidence of how the colonies' growth (and their organisational complexity) implied changes to the co-ordination mechanisms used.

Keywords:

• organisational structure
• eighteenth century
• New Settlements (NS) of Sierra Morena

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Editors of Business History for their fruitful comments. Also, they would like to thank Professor Concha Álvarez-Dardet for her comments on earlier versions of the paper. This research has been financed by the following projects: SEJ2005-01913 and SEJ 2006-15105.

Notes

 1. The fanega is a measure of area, and 50 fanegas covers around 5945 sq.m.

 2. Miguel de Gijón y León shared interests in a business with Pablo de Olavide. In July 1767, he accepted the position of Subdelegate, but he left the NS on 5 May 1771 (AHN, Inquisición, leg. 3, 603-2, Letter from the Superintendent, May 25, 1771).

 3. The Inspector was a new post that emerged in 1768 because the number of settlers was too large to be controlled by the Commandant.

 4. AHN, Inquisición, leg. 3,601, Relationship of employees at December 1, 1768, p. 5, emphasis added.

 5. Ibid.

 6. AHN, Inquisición, box 3601.

 7. This was obtained from the Statement of Money received at the New Settlements of Sierra Morena (AGS, Secretaría y Superintendencia de Hacienda, box 498, February 28, 1772).

 8. AHN, Inquisición, leg. 3601, Relationship of Employees of these New Settlements of Sierra Morena.

 9. As, for example, AHN, Inquisición, box 3,603-2, letter from the Superintendent, October 21, 1771.

10. AGS, Secretaría y Superintendencia de Hacienda, box 497, December 10, 1770.

11. AHN, Inquisición, box 3611–2, Relationship of Employees at the NS of Sierra Morena and their Wages.