Synopses & Reviews
This broad, balanced introduction to organizational studies enables the reader to compare and contrast different approaches to the study of organizations. This book is a valuable tool for the reader, as we are all intertwined with organizations in one form or another. Numerous other disciplines besides sociology are addressed in this book, including economics, political science, strategy and management theory. Topic areas discussed in this book are the importance of organizations; defining organizations; organizations as rational, natural, and open systems; environments, strategies, and structures of organizations; and organizations and society. For those employed in fields where knowledge of organizational theory is necessary, including sociology, anthropology, cognitive psychology, industrial engineering, managers in corporations and international business, and business strategists.
Synopsis
For advanced undergraduate courses on organizations, sociology of organizations, organizations & management, and organization theory. Courses can be found in the departments of sociology, business and public administration departments.
Organizations and Organizing: Rational, Natural and Open Systems 1/e, covers the early history of organization studies, provides a comprehensive framework for comparing competing theoretical paradigms, and addresses major developments in the most recent decade. Its scholarly yet accessible conceptual framework encourages our diverse scholarly community to come together to consider common issues and problems.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Subject is Organizations; The Verb is Organizing
Chapter 2: Organizations as Rational Systems
Chapter 3: Organizations as Natural Systems
Chapter 4: Organizations as Open Systems
Chapter 5: Combining Perspectives, Expanding Levels
Chapter 6: Technology and Structure
Chapter 7: Labor and Structure
Chapter 8: Goals, Power, and Control
Chapter 9: The Dyadic Environment of the Organization
Chapter 10: Organization of the Environment
Chapter 11: Networks In and Around Organizations
Chapter 12: Strategy, Structure, and Performance: The Sociology of Organizational Strategy
Chapter 13: The Rise and Transformation of the Corporate Form
Chapter 14: Changing Contours of Organizations and Organization Theory