Organizations and Organizing: Rational, Natural and Open Systems PerspectivesThis 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. |
Contents
Preface | |
From Structure to Process | |
Organizations as Rational Systems | |
Organizations as Natural Systems | |
Organizations as Open Systems | |
Combining Perspectives Expanding Levels | |
Technology and Structure | |
Labor and Structure | |
The Dyadic Environment of the Organization | |
Organization of the Environment | |
Networks In and Around Organizations | |
The Sociology | |
The Rise and Transformation of the Corporate Form | |
Changing Contours of Organizations and Organization Theory | |
References | |
Name Index | |
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Common terms and phrases
activities actors administrative alliances American approach argues arguments asset specificity associated behavior boundaries bureaucratic central chaebol Chapter characteristics companies competition complex concept contingency theory coordination corporate create cultural decision defined described developed dominant ecological economic effects emphasize employed employees environment examine example firms Fisher Body formal function goals groups Hannan hierarchy human important increasing individual industry influence institutional interaction interdependence interests keiretsu labor level of analysis managerial managers manufacturing MÂform norms open systems operate organization theory organization’s Organizational Ecology organizational forms organizational populations organizational structure organizational studies organizations participants performance Pfeffer Podolny political problems processes production professional relations relatively resource dependence resource dependence theory River Rouge plant role Scott Selznick society specific strategies studies suppliers system models tasks technical transaction cost Transaction cost analysis types United vary vertical integration Weber workers