Orient BlackSwan

About the BookAbout the AuthorTable of Contents

Introduction to Organization Theory is a textbook for students and scholars of business management, aspiring to be practicing managers in the corporate world. It introduces them to the concept of organization theory, structure and design.

The focus is on the structure and design of organizations, the theories underlying the design of structures, the effectiveness of organizational design in ensuring organizational survival and growth, and the management of organizational restructuring and change to prevent corporate decline and failure.

Most standard textbooks on organizational theory currently in use are by foreign authors, and cite predominantly US or European examples. To address this lacuna, at least two Indian case studies have been discussed in each chapter and numerous examples of Indian organizations and their experiences have been included to explain concepts and theories.

Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya was formerly Associate Professor, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras. She holds a BE in Metallurgy and is an FPM in Behavioral Sciences from IIM Calcutta. She is currently working with Feedback Foundation, a consulting organization in the development sector.

Chapter 1: Understanding Organizations
Organizational Insight
1.1 What is an Organization?
1.2 Definitions
1.3 Organization Theory: A Historical Perspective
1.4 Different Forms of Organizational Reality
1.5 Why do Organizations Exist?
1.6 Viewing Organizations from an Open systems Perspective
1.7 Viewing Organizations from a Life cycle Perspective
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Helping Hands
Critical enquiry

Chapter 2: Organizational Effectiveness
Organizational Insight
2.1 What is Organizational Effectiveness?
2.2 Approaches for Measuring Organizational Effectiveness
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: A Study in Effectiveness—IIT, Madras
Critical enquiry

Chapter 3: Organization Structure
Organizational Insight
3.1 What is Organization Structure?
3.2 Dimensions of Organization Structure
3.3 Organizational Configurations: Types of Organizational Structures
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Synergy in Design
Critical enquiry

Chapter 4: Organizational Strategy
Organizational Insight
4.1 The Strategy Imperative
4.2 What is Strategy?
4.3 Levels of Strategy
4.4 Strategic Dimensions
4.5 The Strategy–Structure Relationship
4.6 The Size Imperative
4.7 The industry–strategy–structure relationship
Chapter summary
Review questions
Project Assignment
Case illustration: CMC Limited
Critical enquiry

Chapter 5: Organizational Environment
Organizational Insight
5.1 What is environment?
5.2 Sources of environmental uncertainty
5.3 Structural responses to environmental uncertainty
5.4 Environment–Structure relationship
5.5 Organizational Strategies for Managing Environmental Uncertainties: Resource Dependence Theory
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Environmental Challenges for HRSL
Critical enquiry

Chapter 6: Technology in Organizations
Organizational Insight
6.1 What is technology?
6.2 Technology–Structure Studies
6.3 Technology–Structure Relationship
6.4 Social network technology, knowledge management and organization design
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Bharti-Airtel
Critical enquiry

Chapter 7: Organizational Culture
Organizational Insight
7.1 Defining Organizational Culture
7.2 Functions of Organizational Culture
7.3 Types of Organizational Cultures
7.4 Strength of Organizational Culture
7.5 Creating, Transmitting and Sustaining Organizational Culture
7.6 Situational Factors affecting Management of Organizational Culture
7.7 Culture’s Effect on Structure
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Cultural Transformation at Fortis-Malar Hospital
Critical enquiry

Chapter 8: Organizational Failure
Organizational Insight
8.1 What is Organizational Failure or Decline?
8.2 Organizational Ecology
8.3 Why do Organizations Fail?
8.4 Patterns of Organizational Failures
8.5 Implications for Managers
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Peugeot leaves India
Critical enquiry

Chapter 9: Managing Organizational Change
Organizational Insight
9.1 Why do Organizations need to Change?
9.2 The Changing Paradigm of Organizational Design
9.3 Creating Organizational Readiness for Change: Role of Power, Politics and Conflict Management
9.4 Change Leadership
9.5 Approaches to Change Management
9.6 Creating a Learning Organization
Chapter Summary
Review Questions
Project Assignment
Case Illustration: Downsizing in a manufacturing organization
Critical enquiry
References
Index