Synopses & Reviews
This book offers a contemporary psychodynamic view of organizational life. Michael Diamond stresses the unconscious dimensions of hierarchic and other work relationships in organizations. From these relationships, he argues, come not only organizational cultures but also organizational identities. The book transcends the common technical rational approach to organizational behavior by isolating and then analyzing the nonrational side of organizational experience. Diamond illustrates how different characteristics of organizational life emerge from the dynamics of shared and projected emotions between leaders and followers, managers and subordinates, and among workers. The author suggests that these complementary unconscious feelings anchor the definition of organizational membership in interpersonal relationships at work. The result is, what he calls, the emotionally grounded structure of organizations--the organizational identity.
What distinguishes this book from other psychodynamic approaches to organizations are the following: (1) an up-to-date synthesis of object relations, self psychology, and interpersonal psychoanalysis based primarily but not exclusively on the work of Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott, Heinz Kohut and Harry Stack Sullivan; (2) a discussion of psychoanalytic organization theory and the application of psychodynamic concepts in organizational behavior; (3) a psychodynamic critique of organizational culture, the structure of values and rituals at work, and the introduction of the structure of organizational emotions, what the author calls organizational identity; (4) a psychoanalytic explanation and typology of regressive behavior in work groups; (5) a discussion and illustration of the role of language and communication in organizational consulting; and (6) a variety of case studies drawn from over ten years of organizational research and consulting. Finally, this book offers the organizational theorist and consultant a variety of psychodynamic tools to apply in understanding and positively changing organizations. This book will be of interest to organizational development consultants, human resource professionals, organizational theorists and researchers, organizational psychologists and psychodynamically oriented social and behavioral scientists, and psychologically informed managers and executives.
Review
A well-written well-organized discussion about the unconscious dimensions of power, knowledge, leadership, and social relationships in work organizations.Contemporary Psychology
Review
Diamond believes theory matters for acting effectively, and the book elaborates his theoretical framework and tests it with his practice. This is a rare combination. Diamond invites those who understand organizations differently to appeal to the relevant data. And he encourages all of us to think much more about the questions he engages.Political Psychology
Synopsis
A contemporary psychodynamic view of organizational life, offering a variety of psychodynamic tools to aid in understanding, and encouraging positive change in organizations.
Synopsis
Diamond offers a contemporary psychodynamic view of organizational life. The author stresses the unconscious dimensions of hierarchic and other work relationships in organizations. From these workplace interactions, he argues, come not only the structure of values and rituals--what he refers to as organizational cultures, but the structure of organizational emotions--what he calls organizational identities. The book offers the organizational theorist, human resource professional, and organizational consultant a variety of psychodynamic tools to apply in understanding and positively changing organizations.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [238]-243) and index.
About the Author
MICHAEL A. DIAMOND is Professor and Chair of Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Theory
Psychoanalytic Organization Theory
Ritualistic Organizational Defenses and the Self-System
The Psychodynamics of Organizational Culture
Organizational Identity
Individual and Group Regression in the Workplace
The Psychodynamics of Language and Communication in Organizational Consultations
Practice
Shame Anxiety and Intimidation at Work
A Public Agency Copes with Transition and Expansion
The Impact of Conflict Avoidance on Organizational Identity
Examples of Leadership Transition and Object Loss
Conclusions: The Psychodynamics of Organizational Change
Bibliography
Index