This wide-ranging analysis both explores current approaches to organization studies and relates the concepts of modernity and postmodernity to the realities of organizational structure and context. In surveying alternative perspectives on organizations in terms of ideal types, systems, contingencies, ecologies, cultures, markets and efficiency, Clegg demonstrates that no single approach is adequate to deal with the real-world variety of organizations that exist. Drawing upon unusual and revealing examples - the production of French bread, Italian fashion and `post-Confucian′ Asian enterprises - he argues that their success cannot be reduced to `culture′ but must incorporate a fuller understanding of the ways in which organizations are constructed and reproduced. This analysis is carried through in a detailed discussion of the debate over why Japanese organizations are so successful.

With such easy access to the Internet and the opportunity for organizations to reach other organizations and individuals around the world faster and more efficiently, modern organizations are rapidly becoming a part of the virtual community. This book presents a comprehensive collection of research works that describe such organizations, the policies and practices that they have implemented and challenges that they have faced throughout their adaptation to the virtual world.

Information is considered both an essential element of organizational design and an asset to be processed and managed. Further research on and application of topics relating to the architecture, management, and use of information is imperative to organizational success. The Handbook of Research on Information Architecture and Management in Modern Organizations focuses on information as an essential element of organizational design and emphasizes the strategic role of knowledge transfer and management in organizations across industries. Taking a cross-disciplinary approach to information architecture and management, this publication draws on research essential to diverse organizations and is designed for use by business professionals, researchers, academicians, and upper-level students. This comprehensive reference work features key research and concepts on topics related to information functionality, information modeling, information overload, information retrieval, innovation management, organizational architecture, informed governance, and relevant applications across industries.

The sociological study of organizations encompasses both planned and formal organizations as well as spontaneous and informal ones. Sociologists examine organizations with attention to structure and objectives, interactions among members and among organizations, the relationship between the organization and its environment and the social significance or social meaning of the organization. The ways of defining and examining organizations vary depending on the theoretical emphasis. This book focuses on three things: * providing a wide and historically accurate portrait of the diversity of sociological theories and their application to organizational studies * updating selections that reflect a variety of ways that new technology affects methods of organizing and types of organizations * including readings that examine a range of both formal and informal structures, and both deliberate and impromptu interactions. Lively and provocative, this textbook is theoretically rigorous, disciplinarily informed and representative of heterogeneity within organizational studies.

This broad, balanced introduction to organizational studies enables the reader to compare and contrast different approaches to the study of organizations. This book is a valuable tool for the reader, as we are all intertwined with organizations in one form or another. Numerous other disciplines besides sociology are addressed in this book, including economics, political science, strategy and management theory. Topic areas discussed in this book are the importance of organizations; defining organizations; organizations as rational, natural, and open systems; environments, strategies, and structures of organizations; and organizations and society. For those employed in fields where knowledge of organizational theory is necessary, including sociology, anthropology, cognitive psychology, industrial engineering, managers in corporations and international business, and business strategists.

This work offers an extended dictionary of key management concepts for students and professionals alike. It helps the reader, through an applied approach to management, to search for the most appropriate ways of improving their organization's performance and effectiveness. With the aid of case studies drawn from the construction industry, this title discusses key management issues including management theory, strategy, organization structure and design, culture, leadership, power, work groups, motivation and personal management.

Organizations: Management Without Control provides a comprehensive understanding of the functions of formal organizations and the challenges they face. The most effective organizations provide members with opportunities to achieve their personal goals while pursuing the organization's objectives. Using a practical approach with minimal jargon, author Howard P. Greenwald covers the basic features of organizations such as roles, structure, reward systems, power and authority, and culture and introduces important theoretical perspectives related to these features. Key Features Emphasizes the theme of "management without control": This volume differs from most standard texts by highlighting both the challenges and opportunities that result from the independence of the individuals in the organization's ranks. Stresses the importance of individual motivation and self-fulfillment: Recognizing the individual's responsibility for their own success, the book helps readers evaluate clues to whether the organization to which they belong is an adequate opportunity. Offers a critical perspective on current fads and management ideologies: Proposing no formulaic solutions, the book provides the perspectives required to understand each organization's uniqueness and to develop remedies to issues as they arise. Makes theory accessible through numerous real-life examples: Chapters include examples from life in business organizations, government agencies, non-profits, clubs, friendship groups, and families. Examines multinational corporations: Challenges involved in management on an international scale are explored as the book applies the principle of individual and group independence to global matters. Underscores multidisciplinary interest in organizations: Content is drawn from sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and management science. Intended Audience This introductory textbook on formal organizations is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses such as Organizational Behavior, Managing Complex Organizations, Sociology of Organizations, and Government/Non-profit Management in the departments of business, public administration, health administration, social work, sociology, and psychology. Instructor's Resources An Instructor's Resource CD is available upon request. This CD provides PowerPoint presentations, test questions, additional examples and cases, suggested exercises, and much more!

Information is considered essential in every business model, which is why staying abreast of the latest resources can help combat many challenges and aid businesses in creating a synthesis between people and information, keeping up with evolving technologies, and keeping data accurate and secure. The Handbook of Research on Knowledge Management for Contemporary Business Environments is a critical scholarly publication that examines the management of knowledge resources in modern business contexts. Including a wide range of topics such as information systems, sustainable competitive advantage, and knowledge sharing, this publication is a vital reference source for managers, academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on strategies that are able to manage the information in more than one context for present and future generations.

Managing and Organizations is a comprehensive, engaging, and accessible textbook that brings the most recent theoretical developments to bear on management practice, while explaining organizational and management issues from a practical standpoint. This text combines insights from organization theory, organizational behavior, and business strategy to offer an easily understood overview of management and organization thought and practice. In a friendly and open style, Stewart Clegg, Martin Kornberger, and Tyrone Pitsis show the major changes that are currently taking place in both research and practice in management and organization studies and offer insights into new directions the field might take. Vignettes from a variety of material, including films, novels, and newspapers illustrate key themes related to contemporary organizations and organization theory.