Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part I. Introduction to Organizations -- Part II. The Open System -- Part III. Organization Structure and Design -- Part IV. Structural Influence on Dynamic Processes -- Part V. Managing Dynamic -- Part VI. Integrating the Total System.

Does organization theory have to be so theoretical?" "How will this stuff help me as a manager?" "Organization theory is boring." These comments are typical of what students say about organization theory. Organization theory is widely perceived as complex, abstract, theoretical, and dull. Of course, those of us within the field know differently, but something has been lost in the translation to students and managers. Most O.T. textbooks describe academic theories and abstract concepts drawn from the research literature. The value of these concepts for explaining organizational activities and for solving day-to-day problems has not been conveyed.
This book is written for a single purpose to describe the usefulness, interest, and applicability of organization theory concepts. Organization theory is intriguing, rich, and helpful. Organization theory frameworks have been developed from contact with real organizations. The concepts can help students and managers explain their organizational world as well as solve pressing problems. This book is written for the student, teacher, or manager who not only wants to understand organization theory, but who wants to understand organizations and to function effectively within them.