Key Concepts in Organization Theory

From agency theory to power and politics, this indispensable guide to the key concepts of organization theory is your compass as you navigate through the often complex and abstract theories about the design and functioning of organizations. Designed to complement and elucidate your textbook or reading list, as well as introduce you to concepts that some courses neglect, this historical and interdisciplinary account of the field:

- Helps you understand the basics of organization theory

- Allows you to check your understanding of specific concepts

- Fills in any gaps left by your course reading, and

- Is a powerful revision tool

Each entry is consistently structured, providing a definition of the concept and why it's important to theory and practice, followed by a summary of current debates and a list of further reading. This companion will provide you with the nuts and bolts of an understanding that will serve you not just in your organization studies course, but throughout your degree and beyond.

Key concepts include: agency theory; business strategy; corporate governance; decision making; environmental uncertainty; globalization; industrial democracy; organizational change; stakeholder theory; storytelling and narrative research; technology and organization structure.

Joint winner of RUSA Notable Business Reference Source 2014

“'Luhman and Cunliffe have provided a glossary of organization theory terms from agency to storytelling to transaction cost economics. In doing so they provide an important resource to any couse on organizations, so students can make their path through the terminological jungle. Each chapter is a rest stop on the jourey, providing helpful hints, pointing out the dangers of the terrain and the safest paths to follow' - Professor David Boje New Mexico State University 'Luhman and Cunliffe perform a valuable service, helping to capture and make accessible the richness of current organizational theory and behaviour' - Richard J. Badham, Professor of Management Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University, Austrailia”

′Luhman and Cunliffe have provided a glossary of organization theory terms from agency to storytelling to transaction cost economics. In doing so they provide an important resource to any course on organizations, so students can make their path through the terminological jungle. Each chapter is a rest stop on the journey, providing helpful hints, pointing out the dangers of the terrain and the safest paths to follow′ -
Professor David Boje
New Mexico State University

′Luhman and Cunliffe perform a valuable service, helping to capture and make accessible the richness of current organizational theory and behaviour′ -
Richard J. Badham, Professor of Management
Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University, Austrailia

Ann Cunliffe is Professor of Organization Studies at the Escola de Administraçâo da Fundaçâo Getulio Vargas, Brazil and Visiting Professor at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy; Aalborg University, Denmark; and the University of Bath, UK. She previously held positions as 50th Anniversary Chair at Bradford University, UK, as Professor at the University of Leeds, UK, the University of New Mexico, USA, and California State University, USA.Her current research interests include ethical leadership, embodied sensemaking, non-traditional qualitative research methods, and reflexive approaches to research, practice and learning. In particular, she is interested in exploring how we can engage in collaborative, responsive and ethical ways of managing organizations.Ann’s recent publications include co-editor of the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Business and Management Research Methods (2018), and articles in Organizational Research Methods, the British Journal of Management, Human Relations, and the Journal of Business Ethics. She received the 2016 Lasting Impact Award from Sage Publications for her 2004 article in the Journal of Management Education and was the 2017 CMS Division Distinguished Keynote Speaker at the Academy of Management. Ann organizes the biennial Qualitative Research in Management and Organization Conference.

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