Understanding Organizations
1st Edition
Published on 22. October 2010
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-7456-4427-1 (ISBN)
Description
Social life is a collective process, and virtually all of social life in contemporary industrial nations is shaped by formal organizations and recognized social institutions. One can no longer hope to understand a complex society without understanding its organizations, any more than one can fully understand organizational life without grasping the social processes that shape it.
Understanding Organizations takes a fresh look at the sociology of organizations, blending classic theories of industrial society with contemporary cultural studies, labor studies, social movement theory, and the role of nonprofits. In each chapter, Lune describes the major ideas and the new work that define the topic, as well as asking how these assumptions came about and how they impact us in our daily lives.
This book will be the ideal companion to courses on organizations across the social sciences, and has insights to offer all students of organized life, whether one is interested in entering the corporate world, starting an arts organization, or mobilizing for social change.
Understanding Organizations takes a fresh look at the sociology of organizations, blending classic theories of industrial society with contemporary cultural studies, labor studies, social movement theory, and the role of nonprofits. In each chapter, Lune describes the major ideas and the new work that define the topic, as well as asking how these assumptions came about and how they impact us in our daily lives.
This book will be the ideal companion to courses on organizations across the social sciences, and has insights to offer all students of organized life, whether one is interested in entering the corporate world, starting an arts organization, or mobilizing for social change.
Reviews / Votes
"Organizations structure our daily lives, but few of us recognize their powerful influence. In this book, Lune offers a clear and accessible introduction to organization studies. With its mix of classical theory, contemporary research, and vivid real-life examples, Understanding Organizations will enlighten students and professionals alike. Read this book to unlock the mysteries of complex organizations."-Christine Williams, University of Texas at Austin
"Understanding Organizations is the most comprehensive, historical, and accessible treatment of the social science of organizations available now. It asks insightful questions, provides theoretically informed answers, will inspire students to study organizations and lay readers to critically evaluate the organizations surrounding us."
-Kevin T. Leicht, University of Iowa
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
612 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7456-4427-1 (9780745644271)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Howard Lune is Associate Professor of Sociology and the Director of the Applied Social Research Program at Hunter College, CUNY.
Content
List of Figures and Tables vii
Acknowledgments viii
1 Introducing Organizations 1
What is an organization? 1
The organizational society 8
Key Readings 17
2 Classic Theories of Organizations 19
Weber - bureaucracy and beyond 20
Durkheim and the division of labor in society 28
Karl Marx and the spirit of capitalism 32
Conclusions 37
Key Readings 38
3 Management and Administration 40
How work works 41
Rational systems - Fayol, Ford, Taylor 42
Organizations as human systems 54
Key Readings 60
4 Culture in Organizations 61
What workers want 63
The TVA and the hearts of men 67
What workers feel 69
Bureaucracy as a culture 71
Organizational cultures at work 76
Culture shift 78
Dress for success 81
Conclusions 82
Key Readings 83
5 Organizational Dysfunctions 85
Everyday dysfunction 86
Built-in failures 96
Disasters 99
Key Readings 104
6 Organizations and Environments 105
Defi nitions and assumptions 105
Relations among organizations 111
The neo-institutional model 125
Key Readings 131
7 The Non- profi t Sector 132
Defining the non-profit sector 133
Why is there a non-profit sector? 135
How are NPOs different? 140
Commerce and community at an arts organization 144
The three sectors intersect 145
Key Readings 153
8 Organizing for Social Change 154
Community-based non-profits and the state 155
Social change organizations 161
Key Readings 171
9 What's Next for the Sociology of Organizations? 173
Which way is forward? 173
Organizations are at the heart of sociology 187
Now that you know this . . . 191
Glossary 193
References 198
Index 211
Acknowledgments viii
1 Introducing Organizations 1
What is an organization? 1
The organizational society 8
Key Readings 17
2 Classic Theories of Organizations 19
Weber - bureaucracy and beyond 20
Durkheim and the division of labor in society 28
Karl Marx and the spirit of capitalism 32
Conclusions 37
Key Readings 38
3 Management and Administration 40
How work works 41
Rational systems - Fayol, Ford, Taylor 42
Organizations as human systems 54
Key Readings 60
4 Culture in Organizations 61
What workers want 63
The TVA and the hearts of men 67
What workers feel 69
Bureaucracy as a culture 71
Organizational cultures at work 76
Culture shift 78
Dress for success 81
Conclusions 82
Key Readings 83
5 Organizational Dysfunctions 85
Everyday dysfunction 86
Built-in failures 96
Disasters 99
Key Readings 104
6 Organizations and Environments 105
Defi nitions and assumptions 105
Relations among organizations 111
The neo-institutional model 125
Key Readings 131
7 The Non- profi t Sector 132
Defining the non-profit sector 133
Why is there a non-profit sector? 135
How are NPOs different? 140
Commerce and community at an arts organization 144
The three sectors intersect 145
Key Readings 153
8 Organizing for Social Change 154
Community-based non-profits and the state 155
Social change organizations 161
Key Readings 171
9 What's Next for the Sociology of Organizations? 173
Which way is forward? 173
Organizations are at the heart of sociology 187
Now that you know this . . . 191
Glossary 193
References 198
Index 211