Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Contributors from the University of Michigan's Graduate School of Management describe common problems in modern organizations and give methods for preventing and eliminating them and turning them into positive forces for organizational growth. They draw on the theory of organizational behavior to expand interview data from managers from 117 companies into useful insights and practical information; and they deal with problems such as effects of overwork, cultural misunderstandings, and multiple accountabilities.
Table of Contents
Introduction : The pressing problems of modern organizations : theoretical, methodological, and practical approaches / Regina M. O'Neill, Lynda St. Clair, and Robert E. Quinn -- Corrosive political climates : the heavy toll of negative political behavior in organizations / Michele Williams and Jane E. Dutton -- Serving two (or more) masters : the challenge and promise of multiple accountabilities / Aimee Arlington and Wayne E. Baker -- Running on empty : overworked people in demanding work environments / Julia A. Welch, Rachel K. Ebert and Gretchen M. Spreitzer -- Underemployed human resources : revealing the secret dilemma of untapped potential / Laura M. Morgan and Daniel C. Feldman -- Cultural misunderstanding : effective communication in globally diverse organizations / Pyrra Alnot and Mary Yoko Brannen -- Chaotic role movement in large organizations : from planning to dynamic management / Nancy Tennant Snyder and Deborah Duarte -- Designing agile organizations : organizational learning at the boundaries / Jeffrey A. Martin and Paul R. Carlile -- Overemphasis on analysis : decision-making dilemmas in the age of speed / Markus Vodosek and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe -- Competitive external pressures : building top management teams to sustain competitive advantage in a changing world / Rebecca S. Wells and Karen A. Bantel -- Poor financial performance : causes, consequences, and measurement issues / Jeffrey M. Bacidore and Anjan V. Thakor -- The problems and promises of total quality management : implications for organizational performance / Kim S. Cameron and Michael Thompson -- Conclusion : The perils of responsiveness in modern organizations : a framework for problem identification / Lynda St. Clair, Robert E. Quinn, and Regina M. O'Neill.