The central theme in this selection of readings is the importance of reflective action in the process of managing formal organizations. Contrary to traditional thinking in Organizational Behaviour (OB) which sees management in terms of social engineering, new thinking in OB highlights the subjective and reflective relationship between managers and the organizations they attempt to manage. Organizations are viewed as fluid, ambiguous constructions, the nature of which depends crucially on the interpretative frameworks applied to them. The articles chosen are all very recent, and written by leading authorities in the field. Although their authors elaborate on the main features of new thinking in OB, they do so through its juxtaposition with traditional theory. In his introduction, the editor has synthesized the arguments of the contributors within the new approach to OB as well as showing their connections to the wider literature.

Organizational Behavior: A Critical-Thinking Perspective, by Christopher P. Neck, Jeffery D. Houghton, and Emma L. Murray, provides insight into OB concepts and processes through a first-of-its kind active learning experience. Thinking Critically challenge questions tied to Bloom’s taxonomy appear throughout each chapter, challenging students to apply, analyze, and create. Unique, engaging case narratives that span several chapters along with experiential exercises, self-assessments, and interviews with business professionals foster students’ abilities to think critically and creatively, highlight real-world applications, and bring OB concepts to life.

A must-read for students in public administration and nonprofit management programs! Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, Fourth Edition, is designed to help students understand, manage, and influence the behavior of others in the workplace. Esteemed authors Robert B. Denhardt, Janet V. Denhardt, and Maria P. Aristigueta take an action-oriented approach by using real-world circumstances within public and nonprofit organizations to illustrate key concepts. Important topics such as stress, decision making, motivation, leadership, communication, teams, and change give students a foundational understanding of the basic issues that affect human behavior. In addition to new cases and examples from the public and nonprofit sectors, the Fourth Edition features new material on leadership and organizational change, cultural diversity and generational diversity, and positive organizational behavior.

Organizational Behavior: For a Better Tomorrow, 2nd Edition is a unique, blended approach to the subject, combining traditional core competencies with contemporary research and innovative practices. The textbook’s distinctive dual presentation integrates “conventional” and “sustainable” organizational behavior (OB) to help students understand how creativity, collaboration, and ethical decision-making can positively impact people, organizations, and entire communities. This fully-updated second edition provides a balanced, real-world approach that strengthens critical thinking skills, enables students to explore the rationale for sustainable OB practices, and illustrates and how values and ethics influence business decisions in the real world. Rather than focusing only on the short-term, bottom-line approach of traditional OB, the text discusses a comprehensive range of topics, from current trends in popular media and scholarly literature, to addressing the current and long-term needs and goals of organizational stakeholders.

In the past, contingency and neo-Marxist theorists of culture reduced culture to an effect of something other than itself and, as they made culture metaphorical, they constituted its object of inquiry — a somewhat impossible pretension. This book extends the debate considerably. It does so through considering the work of Foucault in the context of the analysis of culture. While Foucault has had a considerable impact on organization studies, up to the present no text has systematically addressed what happens to organization culture when it encounter a Foucauldian gaze. Read this book and you will find out.Stewart Clegg, UTS, Sydney

Based on a broad range of case studies, Organization and Management Problem Solving is an insightful text designed to improve the application of organization theory and systems thinking in teaching and practice. This book illustrates the five key themes in the nature of organization and managementa'technical, structural, psychosocial, managerial, and culturala'through the analysis of measured incidents tested by students. A clear theoretical framework supports the case studies, allowing the text to have practical relevance to contemporary settings and to be recognized as a model for describing, analyzing, and responding to organization and management problems. The model integrates the thinking of many writers on organization and problem solving including Ackoff, Blake, and Mouton; Schein, Kast, and Rosenweign; and Mitroff and Lippitt. The approach eliminates causal conditions and emphasizes responsive problem solving. Theory is applied and expanded as needed to a broader social context, engaging the reader in a thorough understanding of the nature and development of organization theory and problem solving. This book is relevant to consultants, academics, and professional managers in a number of settings (academic, military, business organizations, and research institutes) and disciplines (including development and change, management, human resources, social psychology, communication, sociology, and psychology).