Monograph of essays and research in the social psychology of behaviour control, with particular reference to the factors bearing on work organization and job design as they influence Motivation and job satisfaction - includes references.

With more than two-thirds fresh material, this new updated edition of Organizational Influence Processes provides an overview of the most important scholarly work on topics related to the exercise of influence by individuals and groups within organizations. In selecting articles for inclusion the editors were guided by the conviction that the most useful and interesting way to view organizational influence is to take a directional approach - that is, to consider the process from the perspective of downward, lateral, and upward influence. They have organized the readings around this framework, preceded by an introductory group of articles dealing more generally with the nature of influence processes and power. The book includes both classic readings and the latest cutting edge research from some of the most respected experts writing in the field. It will be equally useful for any upper level undergraduate or graduate course concerned with organizational behavior, group behavior, leadership or power and politics.

Late one afternoon in the fall of 1976, we were sipping Sanka and speculating on the possible directions towards which research and theory in organizational science might lead. One of us had just re-read Walter Nord's Marxist critique of Human Resource Management, and the discussion evolved into an enumeration of the many articles that had appeared in the recent literature attacking the discipline, its mission, and its methods. In no time the list was long enough to suggest that a number of scholars, both young and established, were dissatisfied with the rate of progress begin made in the accumulation of knowledge about organizations. The critics we identified were located at many different schools, and they were associated with diverse research traditions and biases. The causes they identified as underlying the problems they cited varied, as did the solutions they offered. We decided to pursue these polemics with a view to seeking com monalities among them, hoping that if there were any dominant common themes, it might be possible to anticipate the directions the field could take. Our reading and thinking led us to the conclusion that many of the issues being raised by the critics of the discipline could be seen as disagreements over some implicit (or ignored) metaphysical and epistemological assumptions about organizations. We hypothesized that much of the controversy resulted from a lack of consensus regarding what organizations are and how knowledge about them can be developed.

Paul Vlaar s book very creatively combines three rich streams of research dealing with economic exchanges; and, in doing so, provides readers with new and important insights on trust, contracts and inter-organizational relationships (IORs). This is cross-disciplinary research at its best. Focusing on the independent and interdependent roles of contracts and trust in value creation and in value capture in IORs, Vlaar relies on solid quantitative and qualitative data to support his arguments. This book is must reading for scholars, managers and policy makers who are interested in these topics. Peter Smith Ring, Loyola Marymount University, US Paul Vlaar s Contracts and Trust in Alliances is one of the most creative contributions to the alliance literature in a very long time. Vlaar s discussion is informed by an unusually deep knowledge of the literature, and significantly pushes the research frontier by examining non-standard but crucial issues, notably how mutual understanding and recognition are preconditions for value discovery and creation. Nicolai Juul Foss, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark Paul Vlaar contends that strategic alliances and other forms of cooperation, such as buyer supplier relationships, joint ventures and offshoring initiatives, increasingly stand at the basis of competitive advantage. Although contracts and trust play a crucial role in such relationships, prior studies on both governance solutions are generally confined to single theories, paradigms and viewpoints. Drawing on an in-depth case study, survey data and conceptual developments, the author advances a more integrative framework. He probes issues such as: the tension between the need and the ability to contract trust and contracts as co-evolving and self-reinforcing phenomena contractual functions other than coordination and control dialectical tensions stemming from contract application standardization of contracting practices. By exploring these topics, the book offers novel perspectives on the role of trust in interorganizational relationships, shifting our attention and creation to the discovery of value by collaborating partners. The book offers novel perspectives on the role of contracts and trust in interorganizational relationships, shifting our attention from the creation and appropriation to the discovery of value by collaborating partners. The book will be useful for managers as well as practitioners interested in the governance and management of inter-organizational relationships. It will also be an important resource for academics and students interested in strategy, organization and organizational theory.

Now available in paperback, this two-volume work is intended to help readers develop powerful new ways of thinking about organizational principles, and apply them to policy-making and management in colleges and universities.The book is written with two audiences in mind: administrative and faculty leaders in institutions of higher learning, and students (both doctoral and Master's degree) studying to become upper-level administrators, leaders, and policy makers in higher education.It systematically presents a range of theories that can be applied to many of the difficult management situations that college and university leaders encounter. It provides them with the theoretical background to knowledgeably evaluate the many new ideas that emerge in the current literature, and in workshops and conferences. The purpose is to help leaders develop their own effective management style and approaches, and feel confident that their actions are informed by appropriate theory and knowledge of the latest research in the field.Without theory, organizational leaders are forced to treat each problem that they encounter as unique–as if it were a first-time occurrence. While leaders may have some experience with a particular issue, their solutions are usually not informed by the accumulated wisdom of others who have already encountered and resolved similar situations. The authors approach the theory of the organization and administration of colleges and universities from three quite different perspectives, or paradigms, each relying on different assumptions about the “reality” of organizational life in colleges and universities. The positivist paradigm–primarily an omnibus systems theory–integrates the chapters into a comprehensive, yet easily accessible whole. Social constructionism, the second paradigm, is introduced in each chapter to illuminate the difficulty of seeking and finding meaningful consensus on problems and policies, while also addressing important ethical issues that tend to be overlooked in leadership thought and action. The third paradigm, postmodernism, draws attention to difficulties of logic and communication under the constraints of strictly linear thinking that “authorities” at all levels attempt to impose on organizations.This “multiple paradigm” approach enables readers to become more cognizant of their own assumptions, how they may differ from those of others in their organization, and how those differences may both create difficulties in resolving problems and expand the range of alternatives considered in organizational decision making. The book offers readers the tools to balance the real-world needs to succeed in today’s challenging and competitive environment with the social and ethical aspirations of all its stakeholders and society at large. The authors’ aim is to elucidate how administration can be made more efficient and effective through rational decision-making while also respecting humanistic values. This approach highlights a range of phenomena that require attention if the institution is ultimately to be considered successful.Also available:Volume 1: The State of the SystemTwo volume set