Organizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory

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Transaction Publishers, 2003 - 192 páginas

Organizations act, but what determines how and when they will act? There is precedent for believing that the organization is but an extension of one or a few people, but this is a deceptively simplified approach and, in reality, makes any generalization in organizational theory enormously difficult. Modern-day organizationsâ manufacturing firms, hospitals, schools, armies, community agenciesâ are extremely complex in nature, and several strategies, employing a variety of disciplines, are needed to gain a proper understanding of them.

Organizations in Action is a classic multidisciplinary study of the behavior of complex organizations as entities. Previous books on the subject focused on the behavior of people in organizational contexts, but this volume considers individual behavior only to the extent that it helps explain the nature of organizations. James D. Thompson offers ninety-five distinct propositions about the behavior of organizations, all relevant regardless of the culture in which they are found. Thompson classifies organizations according to their technologies and environments. That organizations must meet and handle uncertainty is central to his thesis.

Organizations in Action is firmly grounded in concepts and theories in the social and behavioral sciences. While it does not offer an actual theory of administration, the book successfully extends the scientific base upon which any emerging administrative theory must rest. This classic work is of continuing value to organizational and management specialists, behavioral scientists, sociologists, administrators, and policymakers.

 

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Términos y frases comunes

achieve activities adapt administrative process assessment behavior boundary-spanning bounded rationality buffering capacity causal action Chapter Chester Barnard closed system complex organizations components concept constraints contingencies contingency theory coordination core technologies criteria decision dependence developed discretionary jobs domain dominant coalition dynamic efficiency employ environmental example expect extent firm fluctuations geared to complex goals Gouldner groups homogeneous hospital important incorporate individual inducements/contributions industrial inputs institutional instrumental rationality intensive technology James D managerial ment modern societies mutual adjustment norms of rationality occupations open system operations organization's organizational rationality organizational studies organizations facing Organizations in Action organizations seek outcome preferences output patterns perfect competition positions problems production Prop Proposition rationality norms reciprocal interdependence satisficing Selznick sequential interdependence social society geared strategy structure subject to rationality task environment task-environment elements technical core technical rationality theory Thompson tion types uncertainty units variables vertical integration

Sobre el autor (2003)

James D. Thompson taught business administration and sociology at Indiana University and Vanderbilt University. He contributed numerous articles to scholarly journals, including American Journal of Sociology, Administrative Science Quarterly, and American Sociological Review. Mayer N. Zald is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Michigan. He is the author of Occupations and Organizations in American Society, and co-author (with John McCarthy) of Social Movements in an Organizational Society, available from Transaction. W. Richard Scott is professor emeritus of sociology at Stanford University. He is the author of Organizations: Rational, Natural and Open Systems and Institutions and Organizations, and is a former editor of Annual Review of Sociology.

Información bibliográfica

TítuloOrganizations in Action: Social Science Bases of Administrative Theory
Classics in Organization and Management Series
AutorJames D. Thompson
ContribuidoresW. Richard Scott, Mayer N. Zald
Ediciónreimpresa, revisada
EditorTransaction Publishers, 2003
ISBN0765809915, 9780765809919
N.º de páginas192 páginas
  
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