Social theory and organization theory often exist in mutual isolation: social theory analyzes the individual actor and the grand social structure, while organization theory focuses on the dynamics of business enterprises and effective organizational forms. Drawing insights from both perspectives, Goran Ahrne explores agency - individuals' actions - and organization within their social context. From this fruitful approach emerges the outline of an organizational theory of society. Working with a broad definition of organizations - not only capitalist enterprises but also nation states, families and voluntary associations - the author investigates the role of organizations in regulating the everyday life of the individual. Equally he relates the organization to its context, the "social landscape" made up of social and cultural phenomena, as well as other organizations. Both market competition and political action are analyzed as forms of interaction between organizational sectors.
Assessing the existing literature on the social theory of bureaucracy and organizations, and pointing to new directions in long-running debates on action and structure, this book will be of interest to lecturers and students of social and organizational theory.
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Editions-Typ
Illustrationen
tables, bibliography, index
Maße
Höhe: 216 mm
Breite: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-8039-8292-5 (9780803982925)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Part 1 Social systems, structures, landscapes: the world and everyday life; the world of the new theoretical movement; system and life-world; system, structure and structuration; a new grand theory?; the history of what; the social landscape. Part 2 The organizational scenery: paradigms lost; what is organized?; and what is not organized?; how is it organized?; types of organizations; individuals, organizations and social landscapes; the organizational scenery and the social world. Part 3 The individual domain: organizations in everyday life; movements among multiple realities; the seriality of everyday life; getting off the track. Part 4 Between organizations: individuals and organizations in the environment; the terrain; interaction within and across organizational sectors; the nation-state as an organization of compromises; the organizational limits of the welfare state; the movements and adaptions of capitalist enterprises; the linking of affiliations in everyday life. Part 5 A summary - organized actors, unorganized organizations: individuals and organizations; unorganized organizations.
