Product Description

Organization Theory offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to the study of organizations and organizing processes. It encourages an even-handed appreciation of the different perspectives contributing to our knowledge of organizations and challenges readers to broaden their intellectual reach.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63084 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 394 pages

Review
`Review from previous edition I like the different perspectives presented rather than simply the modern which seems to be typical of most popular texts in this area.' J. G. Whinney, Senior Lecturer, University of Ulster

`A comprehensive introduction to the study of organizations, with an appraisal of the different perspectives that have contributed to the knowledge of organizations. The volume is developed in three parts. Part 1 introduces the multi-perspective approach. Part 2 explores the ways in which organizations are analysed, notably as entities within an environment, as subjects of strategic action, as technologies, as structures, as cultures and as physical structures. Part 3 covers topics of central importance in organization theory including decision making, power, conflict, control, and change within organizations.' International review of Administrative Sciences (IRAS) Number 1. 1999.

`It is not often that you can read a work on organization theory that you feel that you can recommend to students and to practising managers. Mary Jo Hatch's book provides a good read for both groups. It presents a range of theories in a useful, attractive and accessible format that will not only enable aspiring managers to come to grips with what is going on around them, but will also enable more experienced practitioners to understand and influence what occurs in their organizations.' Professor Iain Mangham, School of Management, Bath

`Organization Theory is both a historical testimony and a peek into the future, and it will be the main guide to organization studies well into the 2000s.'' Barbara Czarniawska-Joerges, Gothenburg University, Sweden

`Few books so successfully communicate the spirit and possibility of enquiry ... Here students will learn, and learn to use for themselves, modernist, symbolic, and postmodern perspectives ... If you want a current text that is broad, coherent, and reader-friendly, then look no further!' Stewart Clegg, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

`A useful summary of the historical perspective.' Long Range Planning

About the Author

Mary Jo Hatch is the C. Coleman McGehee Eminent Scholars Research Professor of Banking and Commerce at the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia and Adjunct Professor, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark.
Ann Cunliffe is Associate Professor in the Anderson Schools of Management at the University of New Mexico.

Customer Reviews

Not my cup of tea...
The other posted reviews make me think that Organization Theory itself is dense, and not just the book itself. That comes as somewhat of a relief and a disappointment at the same time.

This book was required reading as a part of my Public Administration program, and from an informal sampling of class opinion, nearly everyone soundly rejected the text as difficult to understand, jargonistic, and stuffy.

Hatch spends so much time covering all perspectives of Organization Theory that she fails to define many terms she puts forth that readers new to these concepts might not necessarily understand. Additionally, the lack of real-life examples of how Organization Theory applies to daily life (or even the real world at all) makes reading her work a difficult proposition at best.

Organization Theory professors, if you're reading this and thinking about making this required reading, I hope you place a huge amount of faith in your teaching ability because without it, this book will not be able to impart a large part of Organization Theory knowledge on its own.

Book is all over the place.
Even though it came in perfect condition and on time, I don't recommend this book. The content is BRILLIANT - but the approach to get there is not so brilliant. No glossary.

Organization Theory Resource
This book is required reading for a graduate OD course I completed this summer. Using the organizational theory perspectives of modernist, symbolic and post modernist, the author carefully guides and builds on theories that support these perspectives. In the end, it give professional change experts a foundation for recommendations. I will continue to use this book as a reference for my internal and external OD/OT work.