Key Concepts in Organization Theory
- Ann L Cunliffe - Fundação Getúlio Vargas-EAESP, Brazil
- John T Luhman - Eastern New Mexico University, USA
SAGE Key Concepts series
Organizational Theory
From agency theory to power and politics, this indispensable guide to the key concepts of organization theory is your compass as you navigate through the often complex and abstract theories about the design and functioning of organizations. Designed to complement and elucidate your textbook or reading list, as well as introduce you to concepts that some courses neglect, this historical and interdisciplinary A-Z account of the field:
- Helps you understand the basics of organization theory
- Allows you to check your understanding of specific concepts
- Fills in any gaps left by your course reading, and
- Is a powerful revision tool
Each entry is consistently structured, providing a definition of the concept and why it's important to theory and practice, followed by a summary of current debates and a list of further reading. This companion will provide you with the nuts and bolts of an understanding that will serve you not just in your organization studies course, but throughout your degree and beyond.
Key concepts include: agency theory; business strategy; corporate governance; decision making; environmental uncertainty; globalization; industrial democracy; organizational change; stakeholder theory; storytelling and narrative research; technology and organization structure.
'Luhman and Cunliffe have provided a glossary of organization theory terms from agency to storytelling to transaction cost economics. In doing so they provide an important resource to any course on organizations, so students can make their path through the terminological jungle. Each chapter is a rest stop on the journey, providing helpful hints, pointing out the dangers of the terrain and the safest paths to follow' -
Professor David Boje
New Mexico State University
'Luhman and Cunliffe perform a valuable service, helping to capture and make accessible the richness of current organizational theory and behaviour' -
Richard J. Badham, Professor of Management
Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University, Austrailia
Not adopted yet but looking forward to adopting this book in the Spring. Excellent overview of theories in OC!
This book provides a glossary of key terms in the field of OT that can be very useful for undergraduate students.
Excelent dictionary to have a deep view of the field of organizational psychology. I use this with my master's students as a key reference in theoreticla perspectives in the field.
Good work, well done. Provides a good concise overview over the field.
This is a key-book for every academic and student in business and management research. It provides excellent summaries of key concepts in organization theory positioning them within their historical context. It allows for a quick, accurate and comparative understanding of all the important theories and concepts in organisational theory and hence it will save you time and brain power in understanding what might of interest for your paper, study, assignment or PhD thesis.
An excellent overview. Recommended to students as general reference.
This is a highly readable journey through the world of organizational theory. The structure of the book is superb in the way it supports the reader in building their conceptual understanding and then guiding the reader to further study in order to deepen thinking and question present organizational cultures and behaviours.
Dr Peter Treadwell
A very useful reference guide succinctly explaining and summarising key management concepts in a way that MBA students can use as an aid to memory and as a source of valuable information to help define and develop their theoretical frameworks.
A helpful supplemental book. But does not have the breadth for a core text.
