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Organization Theory and Governance for the 21st Century
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Organization Theory and Governance for the 21st Century

First Edition

Other Titles in:
Organizations

August 2014 | 352 pages | CQ Press

Exposing students to post-traditional theory as well as to “operationalize” theory, this book clearly shows how they’ve been applied and with what impact. The book first covers the classical foundations of organization theory, beginning with rationalist approaches and the behavioural revolution, and then delving into the diversity of network theory, chaos and complexity, structural-functionalism, and transaction cost economics. The authors then demonstrate how these theories are operationalized; i.e. how they can be applied to various management and administrative functions, including managing individual behaviour, affecting organizational change, understanding and shaping group dynamics, and managing organization/environment relations. The final section introduces students to post-traditional theory, links back to classical foundations, and demonstrates how these theories are being applied in organizations involved in governance.  Austin and Parkes also discuss the implications and provide critiques of these theories.

Valuable case studies bring the material to life; the authors identify both historical contexts and “current expressions,” or contemporary examples of these theories at work. Reflection questions throughout each chapter, end-of-chapter discussion questions, and bolded key concepts facilitate a deeper understanding of the material and prompt students to extrapolate what they’ve learned and engage in further analysis.

 
Chapter 1: An Introduction and Orientation to Organization Theory
The Complex World of Public Organizations: A Primer

 
Sociology of Knowledge:Ways of Knowing about Organizations

 
Influential theories and paradigms in the social sciences

 
Levels of analysis

 
The Book's Approach

 
Organization and Content of the Book

 
Diving In

 
 
Part I: Theories of Organization
 
Chapter 2: Classical Foundations: The Historical Context of a New Field of Study
Max Weber – Authority and Bureaucracy

 
Henri Fayol

 
Frederick Winslow Taylor

 
Luther Gulick

 
Woodrow Wilson

 
Other Voices

 
Case 2.1 The President's Committee on Administrative Management (The Brownlow Committee and Report)

 
Summary and Commentary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 3: Behavioral Revolution
Historical Context – Pre-War Hints and Post-War Proliferation

 
Chester Barnard

 
Elton Mayo, Fritz Rothlisburger and the Hawthorne Experiments

 
Systems Theory

 
Human Relations Theory

 
Empirical Work – Kurt Lewin & Rensis Likert

 
Conceptual Work – Abraham Maslow

 
Douglas McGregor

 
Chris Argyris

 
Robert Merton

 
Herbert Simon

 
Other Voices: Dwight Waldo

 
Case 3.1 The New York Department of Sanitation – Bureau of Motor Equipment

 
Summary and Commentary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 4: Life after Berger and Luckman: A Theoretically Diverse World
Social and Historical Climate – Things get more complicated

 
Economic Theories of Organization – Transaction Costs Economics and Agency Theory

 
Network Theory

 
Contingency Theory

 
Chaos and Complexity Theories

 
Structural-Functionalism & Structuration Theory

 
Cognitive and Psychological Models - Sensemaking

 
Case 4.1 The Tennessee Valley Authority: An examination of parallel theories

 
Summary and Commentary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Part II: Issues, Strategies and Tactics
 
Chapter 5: Managing Individual Behavior
The Management Attribute

 
Classical and Rationalist Approaches

 
Case 5.1 Current Expressions: Classical and Rationalist Approaches at the Department of Homeland Security

 
Hawthorne Reprised: From Rationalism to Behavioralism

 
Case 5.2 Current Expressions: Behaviorist Alternatives

 
Foreshadows of Postmodernism

 
Conclusion

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 6: Understanding and Shaping Group Dynamics
The Management Attribute

 
Human and Group Relations Theories

 
Case 6.1 Current Expressions : Control and Expanding the Area Under the Curve at St. John’s Health System

 
Systems Theories

 
Case 6.2 Current Expressions : TQM and Local Government

 
Organization Culture

 
Case 6.3 Current Expressions: Organizational Culture and Management at Continental Airlines

 
Foreshadows of Postmodernism

 
Summary and Commentary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 7: Affecting Organization Change
The Management Attribute

 
Key Theories of Change

 
Business Process Reengineering

 
Case 7.1 Current Expressions: Business Process Reengineering at the Jefferson County Alabama

 
The Burke-Litwin Change Model

 
Case 7.2 Current Expressions: Burke-Litwin in Texas Public Schools

 
Organization Development

 
Case 7.3 Current Expressions: OD in the Montana State University Research Library

 
New Sciences and Organizations

 
Chaos and Complexity theories

 
Foreshadows of postmodernism

 
Conclusions

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 8: Managing Organization – Environment Relations
The Management Attribute

 
Resource Dependence Theory

 
Case 8.1 Current Expressions: Resource Dependence Theory at Brigham Young University

 
Network Theory

 
Case 8.2 Current Expressions: Networks and Municipal Housing in the Phoenix-Mesa Area

 
Neo-Institutionalism

 
Case 8.3 Current Expressions: Isomorphic and Governance Organizations

 
Links to Post-traditionalism/Postmodernism

 
Summary and Commentary

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Part III: Towards Post-Positivist Organizations
 
Chapter 9: Escaping the Void: History of Post-Positivism
History and Genealogy

 
Intellectual development

 
Post-positive Concepts appearing in the social sciences

 
Power-Knowledge

 
Summary and Conclusions

 
 
Chapter 10: Learning to Fly: Applying Post-Traditional Theory
Organizational Activities

 
Ethics

 
Conclusions

 
 
Chapter 11: Conclusion: This is the Beginning
Top 10 Things You’re Tired of Reading (but should remember anyway)

 
Historical and Conceptual Review

 
Organizations and Theory Competence

 
Governance Redux

 

“This book provides a breath of fresh air when discussing organizational theory and practice, and one that students will appreciate. The inclusion of organizational ethics is not only topical and relevant in today’s society, it also promotes and reinforces ‘ethics across the curriculum,’ a vital component of any public administration program. The material in Chapter 7, Affecting Organization Change: The Management Attribute, provides an excellent foundation for students, practitioners, and elected officials alike in the topic of change, an area that few people have received education or training in, yet is such a significant part of organizations and our lives. In fact, the material in this chapter was so impressive I found myself wanting to share it with the non-profit organization I volunteer with in light of their current situation and interaction with the city. Being able to relate real-life scenarios to material in the text, and wanting to use this material to better understand and improve these scenarios is powerful.”

Marcie Delmotte
Northern Arizona University

Organization Theory and Governance for the 21st Century provides an accessible discussion of a wide range of organizational theories and illustrates how these different perspectives enhance our understanding of the complex management and governance challenges in modern public organizations.  The book will make an exciting new addition to the book shelf of students and scholars alike.”

Mark T. Imperial
Department of Public and International Affairs, University of North Carolina Wilmington

“While there are many fine texts on organization theory, Pershing and Austin's Organization Theory and Governance for the 21st Century stands out among them. The authors provide the standard overview of the various theories of organization and treat them in enough detail to be useful. Where they shine is in their excellent discussion of Berger and Luckmann's social construction as well as subsequent diverse theories in Chapter 4 that offer a solid contextual framework for the overall subject. Going beyond theory, in Part II the writers delve into more practical action-oriented material that both current and future practitioners can benefit immensely from. Overall, this is a superb textbook that exceeds expectations and can be easily used for undergraduate, graduate, or professional venues.”

Shawn Schooley
Auburn University

The book is essentially designed to address important understanding about organisations and their importance in society. It introduces most of the dynamics for operations and developing effective groups. It is therefore important for Public Administration Students to understand Organisational functionalities, in particular those in the public sphere.

Mr SIPHIWE DAVIDSON NDOU
Accounting , UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO
November 5, 2015

Theorotical Frame is well established

Professor ERHAN ATAY
Business Administration , Suleyman Sah University
December 8, 2015

Excelent book!

Professor Pedro Correia
Public Administration, University of Lisbon
December 17, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 7


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