Organization Studies

Normal Organizational Wrongdoing: A Critical Analysis of Theories of Misconduct in and by Organizations

Donald Palmer

Normal Organizational Wrongdoing critically reviews theory and research on wrongdoing in and of organizations, focusing on the individual level of analysis. The book ... More

Normal Organizational Wrongdoing critically reviews theory and research on wrongdoing in and of organizations, focusing on the individual level of analysis. The book considers a wide variety of organizational misconduct, including corporate crime, white-collar crime, unethical behaviour, and socially irresponsible behaviour. It begins by developing an overarching framework for classifying existing theories of organizational wrongdoing. Then it uses this framework to guide its presentation, evaluation, and extension of theories currently in use in the field. The overarching framework distinguishes between two broad classes of theories of wrongdoing; one, shared by most students of wrongdoing, considers wrongdoing an abnormal phenomenon and the other, championed by the author, considers wrongdoing a normal occurrence. Two existing explanations of wrongdoing, the rational choice and culture accounts, fall into the former category. Four existing theories, the administrative system, situational social influence, power structure, and accidental accounts, fall into the latter category. One current theory, the behavioural decision account, serves as a bridge between the two approaches. The book's overarching framework also suggests the need for an eighth explanation of organizational wrongdoing that has largely been overlooked to this point, the social control account. The theoretical arguments advanced in the book are illustrated by rich case studies of instances of organizational wrongdoing. The book concludes with a discussion of the practical implications that the theory reviewed and developed in the book holds for those seeking to curb wrongdoing in and of organizations. Less

Organizational Learning Contracts: New and Traditional Colleges

Paul S. Goodman

This book is about a new concept – Organizational Learning Contracts (OLCs). An OLC is a shared agreement among the major parties in an educational institution (faculty, staff, students) ... More

This book is about a new concept – Organizational Learning Contracts (OLCs). An OLC is a shared agreement among the major parties in an educational institution (faculty, staff, students) about what, how, where, and when learning should take place. The book examines the consequences of strong and weak contracts in new and comparable traditional institutions. It is divided into two sections: (1) theory and research evidence and (2) practice. The book develops the concept of the OLC, builds measures of this concept, and then looks at the consequences of strong versus weak contracts on student and institutional effectiveness indicators. The practice section presents the perspectives of two leaders of start-up institutions who have created new OLCs and explores issues of design and change in introducing OLCs. There are some critical themes underlying this book. The first deals with change in higher education. The dilemma is that there are strong forces both for change (e.g., economic, global, technological) and for the status quo. The book addresses in a specific way how to create effective organizational change. Another theme is the start up of new institutions of higher education. The basic question is: if you could start from the beginning, with appropriate resources, how would you design a new institution. The book explores this theme from a research perspective and from those who created new colleges. A third theme is bridging theory and practice. The book looks at both the meaning and consequences of the OLC. Less

Organizational Traps: Leadership, Culture, Organizational Design

Chris Argyris

This book questions why organizations often do not function effectively, focusing on leadership, cultural change, and organizational design. It considers how organizations often espouse ... More

This book questions why organizations often do not function effectively, focusing on leadership, cultural change, and organizational design. It considers how organizations often espouse a particular objective and yet frequently employ means of implementation that contradict that objective. The book illustrates how dysfunctional behaviour abounds in organizations and conflict is frequently avoided rather than dealt with openly, with the same arguments erupting repeatedly. It argues that people who feel like victims at work are not trapped by some oppressive regime, but they are trapped by their own behaviour; they themselves are responsible for making the status quo so resistant to change. The book reflects on the controversies that previous researchers have encountered on the subject: on the one hand, there is substantial agreement that these traps are counterproductive to effective performance, but on the other hand, there is almost no focus on how organizational traps can be reduced. The book ultimately concludes that whatever theory is used to understand such situations, should be used to implement interventions that prevent them. Less

Paradoxes of Modernization: Unintended Consequences of Public Policy Reform

Helen Margetts, Perri 6, Christopher Hood (eds)

This book explores the unintended and unanticipated effects associated with ‘modernization’ projects and tackles the key question that they provoke: Why do policy-makers persist in such ... More

This book explores the unintended and unanticipated effects associated with ‘modernization’ projects and tackles the key question that they provoke: Why do policy-makers persist in such enterprises in the face of evidence that they tend to fail? The book first discusses what is meant by ‘modernization’ and ‘unintended consequences’, placing public policy reform within more general intellectual and social trends. It presents eight case study ‘modernization’ projects. Their architects promised faster trains, a more efficient and reactive health service, a more motivated public service, better performing local government, enhanced information for prospective US university students, reduced rates of child malnutrition in developing countries, and a free, open, safe, interconnected cyberspace for people to conduct their social and political life. Each case provides a neat story with a paradox that varies the modernization theme and tackles the question: Why was the project pursued? The conclusion categorizes the cases in terms of their outcome, from success to disappointment, and suggests some strategies for a more balanced version of modernization for current and future policy-makers. Less

Pattern in Corporate Evolution

Neil M. Kay

Questions relating to the existence and nature of firms have become major issues in economics in recent years. This book provides original explanations for many individual phenomena in ... More

Questions relating to the existence and nature of firms have become major issues in economics in recent years. This book provides original explanations for many individual phenomena in this area. The analysis is set in the context of an integrative framework for analysing the boundaries and structure of the firm. The book analyses the firm as a complex system in which links composed of shared resources constitute basic building blocks. The evolution of the firm from simple beginnings to a complex system is then studied in a number of areas, including vertical integration, diversification, multi-national enterprise, joint venture, alliance, network, and internal organization. Less

The Politics of Working Life

Judy Wajcman

Paul Edwards (ed.)

How does the politics of working life shape modern organizations? Is our desire for meaningful, secure work increasingly at odds with corporate behaviour in a globalized economy? Does ... More

How does the politics of working life shape modern organizations? Is our desire for meaningful, secure work increasingly at odds with corporate behaviour in a globalized economy? Does the rise of performance management culture represent an intensification of work, or create opportunities for the freewheeling individual career? This timely and engaging book, by leading authorities in the field, adopts the standpoint of the ‘questioning observer’. The book is unique in its multi-dimensional approach, weaving together analysis of individual work experience, political processes in organizations, and the wider context of the social structuring of markets. It identifies central questions about working experience and has a strong analytical foundation based on a political economy framework, giving particular weight to the contradictory character of organizations. These contradictions turn on the competing demands placed on organizations and the different political projects of groups within them. Numerous scholarly debates are addressed — including those on identity projects, gender and work, power and participation, escalation in decision-making, and the meaning of corporate social responsibility. Less

Process, Sensemaking, and Organizing

Tor Hernes, Sally Maitlis (eds)

This book is the first in a series of volumes which explore perspectives on process theories, an emerging approach to the study of organizations that focuses on (understanding) ... More

This book is the first in a series of volumes which explore perspectives on process theories, an emerging approach to the study of organizations that focuses on (understanding) activities, interactions, and change as essential properties of organizations rather than structures and state — an approach which prioritizes activity over product, change over persistence, novelty over continuity, and expression over determination. Process and sensemaking may be seen as mutually interlocking phenomena and, as such, are cornerstones in process thinking, This book brings together contributions from an international group of scholars energized by process organization studies. The chapters offer perspectives from different disciplines, insights from diverse theoretical traditions and contexts, and parallels made with a range of cultural forms, including art, poetry, and cookery. The chapters exhibit a clear emphasis on a process ontology, process theorizing, and narrative thinking. Recurrent themes emerge that distinguish process theorizing from the more logico-scientific, variance-oriented research that dominates organization studies today. Less

The Production of Knowledge: The Challenge of Social Science Research

William H. Starbuck

This book reflects on a number of challenges associated with management and social science research — the search for a ‘behavioral science’, the limits of rationality, the unreliability ... More

This book reflects on a number of challenges associated with management and social science research — the search for a ‘behavioral science’, the limits of rationality, the unreliability of many research findings, the social shaping of research agendas, cultures, and judgements. The book is chronologically structured and includes discussions of research projects and various methodological debates. This is a feisty argument based on all aspects of research — carrying out research programmes, evaluating research, tirelessly questioning the assumptions and claims of social science research, and never avoiding the awkward theoretical or practical challenges that face organizational researchers. Less

Psychological Capital: Developing the Human Competitive Edge

Fred Luthans, Carolyn M. Youssef, Bruce J. Avolio

This book draws from a foundation of positive psychology and recently emerging positive organizational behavior (POB). Its purpose is to introduce the untapped human resource capacity of ... More

This book draws from a foundation of positive psychology and recently emerging positive organizational behavior (POB). Its purpose is to introduce the untapped human resource capacity of psychological capital, or simply PsyCap. This PsyCap goes beyond traditionally recognized human and social capital and must meet the scientific criteria of theory, research, and valid measurement. To distinguish from other constructs in positive psychology and organizational behavior, to be included in PsyCap the resource capacity must also be “state-like” and thus open to development (as opposed to momentary states or fixed traits) and have performance impact. The positive psychological resource capacities that meet these PsyCap criteria — efficacy (confidence), hope, optimism, and resilience — are covered in separate chapters. These four resource capacities are conceptually and empirically distinct, but also have underlying common processes for striving to succeed and when in combination contribute to a higher-order, core construct of psychological capital. Besides these four, other potential positive constructs such as creativity, wisdom, well being, flow, humor, gratitude, forgiveness, emotional intelligence, spirituality, authenticity, and courage are covered in Chapters 6 and 7. The concluding Chapter 8 summarizes and presents the research demonstrating the performance impact of PsyCap, the PsyCap questionnaire (PCQ) for measurement and the PsyCap Intervention (PCI) for development. Utility analysis indicates that investing in the development of PsyCap can result in a very substantial return. In total, this book provides the theory, research, measure, and method of application for the new resource of Psychological Capital that can be developed and sustained for competitive advantage. Less

Reason's Neglect: Rationality and Organizing

Barbara Townley

Reason, and the need to Be Rational, are essential dimensions of society and the organizations we live and work in. Yet the ‘rationalization’ of working and administrative processes, or ... More

Reason, and the need to Be Rational, are essential dimensions of society and the organizations we live and work in. Yet the ‘rationalization’ of working and administrative processes, or the ‘rationality’ studied in social sciences, is all too often, used, understood, and interpreted in an extremely narrow sense. This book does three things. Firstly, it argues that rationality is a leitmotif of organization studies, but one that has often been neglected. Secondly, it deploys Foucault's work to recover the neglected dimensions of rationality. In doing this, it allows for a revisionary exploration of key subjects in organization studies: organization theory, bureaucracy, technology, culture, practice, etc. Finally, the book presents the case of new rational management techniques being introduced in an organization, allowing individuals to ‘speak for themselves’, and examining how they respond to these innovations, and how they make sense of them. Arguing that rationality should be seen as disembedded, embedded, or embodied, each chapter goes on to explore a different aspect of reason, such as economic, bureaucratic, technocratic, institutional, or contextual. Less