Organization Theory

Description

This new text takes a unique practice-based approach, identifying questions, problems and issues that are perceived as pertinent by practitioners, and using these as the starting point to identify the relevant theories.

• This title presents key issues that practitioners face and builds the theory around these, allowing students to engage with the material with a deeper understanding of its relevance.
• The authors take a practice-based approach, presenting a wide range of case material that helps to illustrate the reality behind organization theory.
• The book offers unique coverage of issues such as boundary spanning, leadership, quality management and strategic change, as well as traditional organizational theory topics, putting OT into context and providing a joined up picture.

About the Author(s)

Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist, Associate Professor, Gothenburg Research Institute, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Tomas Müllern, Professor of Business Administration, Jonkoping International Business School, and Alexander Styhre, Chair of Organization Theory and Management, Dept of Business Administration, School of Business, Economics, and Law, University of Gothenburg

Table of Contents

1:Introduction: the practical value of organization and management theory
Part 1 - Managing systems and technology
2:Organizational boundaries and structures
3:Information technology and business systems
4:Operations management in day-to-day work
Part II - Managing people
5:Finding people and motivating them to make the best of their potential
6:How to lead in an organization
7:Coping with external influences in organizations
Part III - Managing change and processes
8:Managing innovation in and between organizations
9:Balancing radical change and continuous improvement
10:Managing learning and knowledge in and between organizations

Reviews

This material is presented very differently to existing organizational books. It starts with the "real-life", and then links and applies the various theories and concepts. This creates a very interesting read and I believe most students will find this style easy to grasp. - Bruce Mitchell, Senior Lecturer, Department of Management and Organisational Studies, Oxford Brookes University

This new book has many strengths. The questions - especially the chapter study questions - are highly relevant and are an extremely good starting point for class discussions and group work. Brilliant! The definition boxes also make the book very useful as a "working tool". - Jeanette Lemmergaard, Associate Professor of Human Resource Management and Internal Communication, University of Southern Denmark; Part-time Associate Professor, Aarhus School of Business

I truly like what I have read. Little jargon is used, and the authors move elegantly from theory to theory, from organizational scholar to organizational scholar. - Ad van Iterson, Associate Professor, Maastricht University, the Netherlands

Additional Resources

Online Resource Centre

For students:
Multiple choice questions Further Reading and Research: Comprising of web links and web link updates linking to organization and company websites, plus additional readings and articles.

"What happened next": as appropriate, cases from within the textbook will continue to be updated on the Online Resource Centre.

For lecturers:

Test bank
PowerPoint slides
Seminar exercises