Product Description

Expert author Joanne Martin examines a variety of conflicting ways to study cultures in organizations, including different theoretical orientations, political ideologies (managerial, critical, and apparently neutral); methods (qualitative, quantitative, and hybrid approaches), and styles of writing about culture (ranging from traditional to postmodern and experimental). In addition, she offers a guide for those who might want to study culture themselves, addressing such issues as: What qualitative, quantitative, and hybrid methods can be used to study culture? What standards are used when reviewers evaluate these various types of research? What innovative ways of writing about culture have been introduced? And finally, what are the most important unanswered questions for future organizational culture researchers?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3206071 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 415 pages

Review
Her approach is inclusive, accessible, and endlessly instructive. -- Peter J. Frost, University of British Columbia

Her book grips the reader with all the intricacies of a detective story. -- Antonio Strati, University of Trento and University of Siena

Martin's book provides a remarkably balanced, deep, and exceptionally well written treatment of the topic. -- Walter Nord, University of South Florida

She creates an elegant map of the chaotic field of organizational culture research, highlighting its debates, dilemmas, accomplishments, and shortcomings. -- Gideon Kunda, Tel Aviv University

From the Author
Although this book focuses theoretically on the topic of organizational culture, it could be useful to any organizational researcher interested in the debates regarding the use of qualitative methods in organizational research.

About the Author
Joanne Martin is the Merrill Professor of Organizational Behavior, and by courtesy, Sociology, at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. She was awarded the Distinguished Educator Award from the Academy of Management in 2000, an honorary doctorate in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School in 2001, and the Centennial Medal from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, in 2002. Professor Martin serves on Advisory Boards of Universities, in the US and abroad, and is a member of the Board of Directors of CPP Inc., a publishing company. She currently studies culture and gender in organizations.

Customer Reviews

A great overview of organizational culture
This book is a most comprehensive, up to date guide for anyone who wants to know more about organizational culture. Written in a clear and informal way, it summarizes, critiques, and extends the last two decades of research on the subject, offering advice for anyone who wants to analyze the culture in their own organization, or in a group of organizations, as well as anyone just interested in the subject. The advice is sophisticated, detailed, practical, and aimed for beginning as well as experienced researchers. Unlike most other U.S. books on the subject, this one draws deeply on European as well as North American scholarship and is appreciative of the difficulties of both qualitative and quantitative methods for studying culture.

A Treasure Map
This aptly titled book is an excellent guide to research on organizational culture. Martin's three perspective theory highlights and demystifies major controversies in organizational culture scholarship. Of additional interest to doctoral students considering or engaged in qualitative research are well-written sections comparing research methods, writing styles, and commentaries from reviewers. Packed with illustrative examples throughout, the book should become a classic among students of organizational culture and organizational studies more generally. Readers may not agree with all of Martin's views, but can nevertheless expect to deepen their understanding of issues in the field and gain clarity around individual orientations within it.

A complex phenomenon becomes easy to grasp
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I also used it - particularly the 3-perspective approach - as a basis for teaching a graduate course on organizational culture. I found that also for the students it was a very accessible and comprehensive volume on a rather complex research field.