It is an interesting book to read to for introducing one to the gist of management.
[...]
In today's tough and uncertain economy, a company needs strong managers to lead its staff toward accomplishing business goals. But managers are more than just leaders — they're problem solvers, cheerleaders, and planners as well. And managers don't come in one-size-fits-all shapes or forms. Managers fulfill many roles and have many different responsibilities at each level of management within an organization. [...]
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Organizations
- Organizational design and structure
- Types of organizational structure
- Organizational theories
- Classical organizational theories
- The behavioral school
- Relations theories
- Recent developments in management theory
- The management science school
- The systems of approach
- The contingency approach
- Organizational and natural environments
- Globalization and organizations
- Inventing and reinventing organizations
- The meaning of entrepreneurship
- Reinventing organizations
- Entrepreneurial process
- Theories of motivation
- Contemporary views of motivation
- An overview of motivation
- Leadership
- The trait approach to leadership
- The behavioral approach to leadership
- Contingency approach to leadership
- Personal characteristics of employees
- Team and team works
- Types of teams
- Characteristics of teams
- Making teams effective
Objectives and Key Themes
This course aims to introduce the study of organizations at a macroscopic level, exploring their nature as social systems, common features, and relevant theories. The course will compare classical and contemporary organizational theories and examine the influence of the organizational environment and globalization. The role of leadership and motivation within organizational structures is also a key area of focus. * The nature of organizations as social systems. * Classical and contemporary organizational theories. * The impact of organizational environments (natural and global). * The importance of leadership and motivation in organizations. * Organizational design and structure.Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the course by explaining its focus on the macroscopic study of organizations. It highlights the importance of understanding organizations as social systems and introduces the key themes that will be explored throughout the course, such as organizational design, theories, and environmental influences. The section emphasizes the need for strong management in today's economic climate and the varied roles and responsibilities managers hold across organizational levels. It establishes the ubiquitous nature of organizations, from for-profit to non-profit entities, all united by the need for human collaboration and effective management. Organizations: This chapter delves into a foundational understanding of what constitutes an organization. It emphasizes the commonalities between seemingly disparate organizational structures, highlighting the human element as a constant and the presence of individuals in charge – the managers. The section serves as a bridge between the broad introductory concepts and the more specific theoretical frameworks to be discussed later. The chapter emphasizes the diversity of organizational goals, from profit-driven ventures to altruistic endeavors. Organizational design and structure: This section likely details various approaches to designing and structuring organizations. It would cover various organizational structures, explaining their advantages, disadvantages and suitability for different contexts and organizational goals. The discussion would likely include the impact of structure on organizational effectiveness and efficiency, perhaps touching upon issues like communication flows, decision-making processes, and resource allocation. Organizational theories: This chapter likely presents a comparative overview of different organizational theories, ranging from classical approaches to more contemporary perspectives like the behavioral school and systems theory. It would analyze the strengths and limitations of each theoretical framework in explaining organizational behavior, providing a critical lens to understand the evolution of management thought and practice. The exploration of these diverse viewpoints aims to equip students with a comprehensive toolkit for analyzing and understanding organizations. Organizational and natural environments: This chapter likely explores the critical role of both the direct and indirect organizational environments in shaping an organization's success. It would discuss the importance of stakeholder relationships and environmental factors, highlighting the impact of external pressures and opportunities on organizational strategy and decision-making. It may include discussion of competitive landscapes, regulatory frameworks, societal trends, and natural resource constraints. Globalization and organizations: This section probably investigates the significant influence of globalization on organizations. It would analyze how globalization impacts competitiveness, business practices, and the international landscape. The discussion would likely touch upon both the opportunities and challenges posed by globalization, exploring how organizations adapt and compete in a globalized world. It might consider various dimensions of globalization, such as economic interdependence, technological advancements, and cultural exchange. Inventing and reinventing organizations: This section focuses on the dynamic nature of organizations and the process of organizational change. It will likely examine entrepreneurship as a driving force behind organizational innovation, exploring both the creation of new organizations and the transformation of existing ones. It may include discussions on adaptive strategies, organizational learning, and the role of leadership in navigating organizational change.Keywords
Organizational behavior, management theory, organizational design, organizational structure, leadership, motivation, globalization, organizational environment, social systems, classical organizational theories, contemporary organizational theories, stakeholder relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a course or book on organizational studies. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The preview is designed to give potential students or readers a clear understanding of the material covered.
What topics are covered in the course/book?
The course/book covers a wide range of topics related to organizations, including their nature as social systems, organizational design and structure, various organizational theories (classical and contemporary), the impact of organizational environments (natural and global), the roles of leadership and motivation, globalization's influence on organizations, and the processes of inventing and reinventing organizations. Specific theoretical frameworks like the behavioral school, systems theory, and contingency approaches are explored.
What are the key themes explored?
Key themes include understanding organizations as social systems, comparing classical and contemporary organizational theories, analyzing the influence of organizational environments (both natural and global), examining the importance of leadership and motivation within organizations, and studying organizational design and structure.
What are the learning objectives?
The course aims to introduce the macroscopic study of organizations, exploring their nature as social systems, common features, and relevant theories. It aims to compare classical and contemporary organizational theories and examine the influence of the organizational environment and globalization. The role of leadership and motivation within organizational structures is also a key focus.
What are the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide brief overviews of each section: The introduction sets the stage, the "Organizations" chapter defines what constitutes an organization, "Organizational design and structure" explores various approaches to organizational design, "Organizational theories" compares different theoretical perspectives, "Organizational and natural environments" examines the impact of the environment, "Globalization and organizations" analyzes globalization's influence, and "Inventing and reinventing organizations" focuses on organizational change and entrepreneurship.
What are the key words associated with this course/book?
Key words include organizational behavior, management theory, organizational design, organizational structure, leadership, motivation, globalization, organizational environment, social systems, classical organizational theories, contemporary organizational theories, and stakeholder relationships.
What types of organizational structures are discussed?
While not explicitly listed, the preview implies that various types of organizational structures are discussed, given the mention of "organizational design and structure" as a key topic. The specifics of these structures are detailed within the relevant chapter.
What organizational theories are covered?
The course/book covers both classical and contemporary organizational theories. Specific theories mentioned include the behavioral school, relations theories, management science school, systems approach, and contingency approach.
Who is this course/book intended for?
Based on the content, this course/book appears to be designed for students or professionals interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of organizational studies. The level of detail suggests it may be suitable for undergraduate or graduate-level courses.
Where can I find more information?
Further details on the course/book would likely be available from the publishing company that provided this preview. More comprehensive details are included within the full document itself.
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- Professor Nicholas Sunday (Author), 2012, Organisational Theory & Practice, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/203578
