Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open SystemsAppropriate for courses in Organizations in Sociology and Political Science departments and in Management and Administration programs. Also suitable as a secondary text in courses on Organizations and Public Policy or Public Administration. This clear, intellectually engaging introduction reviews the field of organization studies-its past, its present and its likely areas of significant future development. Specifically, it surveys the development of rational, natural and open systems theories-from earlier to contemporary versions-and provides a framework to allow students to comprehend past and present theories and to understand current controversies. While attending to the contributions of other disciplines to the understanding of organizations, the approach taken is primarily sociological. The arguments are addressed not only to current and future managers, but to anyone who is obliged to live and work in a society dominated by organizations. |
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User Review - jorgearanda - LibraryThingA very useful summary of the field of organizational science. Its treatment of three different paradigms to understand organizations (as rational, natural, and open systems) is tremendously insightful ... Read full review
Contents
part n Three perspectives on organizations | 33 |
Organizations as Natural Systems | 56 |
Organizations as Open Systems | 82 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
action activities actors adapt administrative analysts approach argues associated attempt attention behavior boundaries bureaucratic Burns and Stalker cathectic Chapter characteristics complex conception conflict contingency theory contracts coordination corporate created criteria cultural decision defined dependence theorists developed differentiation effects emphasize employed environment environmental examine example existence extent external firms focus formal functions goals Gouldner groups Herbert Simon hierarchy important increasing individual industrial inputs institutional interdependence interests labor level of analysis loosely coupled Lorsch managers markets Marxist ments nizations norms open system operate orga organiza organization's organizational forms outcomes participants performance personnel persons Pfeffer population ecology problems processes production rational-legal authority relations response roles scientific management Selznick Simon social structure specific strategies studies system models system theorists task technical core theory tional tions total institutions trans Transaction cost analysis types of organizations uncertainty units vary Weber Weick workers
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems |
| Author | W. Richard Scott |
| Edition | 4 |
| Publisher | Prentice Hall, 1998 |
| ISBN | 0132663546, 9780132663540 |
| Length | 416 pages |
| Subjects | › › Social Science / Sociology / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |