Organizational Theory

In the years following her role as the lead author of the international best seller, Limits to Growth - the first book to show the consequences of unchecked growth on a finite planet - Donella Meadows remained a pioneer of environmental and social analysis until her untimely death in 2001. Thinking in Systems is a concise and crucial book offering insight for problem-solving on scales ranging from the personal to the global. Edited by the Sustainability Institute's Diana Wright, this essential primer brings systems thinking out of the realm of computers and equations and into the tangible world....

Tremendous forces for change are radically reshaping the world of work. Disruptive innovations, radical thinking, new business models and resource scarcity are impacting every sector. Although the scale of expected change is not unprecedented, what is unique is the pervasive nature of the change and its accelerating pace which people in organizations have to cope with. Structures, systems, processes and strategies are relatively simple to understand and even fix.

Theories to leading an organization efficiently are very important. Most people who are thrown into management positions will eventually be put on the spot when it comes to deciding which form of management to use for their employers' organization.

In the military, a field manual provides instructions in simple, clear, step-by-step language to help soldiers complete their mission. In the civilian sector, books offer information on everything from fixing a leaky faucet to developing an effective workout program to cooking a good steak. Leadership Strategy and Tactics explains how to take leadership theory, quickly translate that theory into applicable strategy, and then put leadership into action at a tactical level. This audiobook is the solution that leaders at every level need.

When we avoid taking a decision, what happens to it? In The Unaccountability Machine, Dan Davies examines why markets, institutions and even governments systematically generate outcomes that everyone involved claims not to want. He casts new light on the writing of Stafford Beer, a legendary economist who argued in the 1950s that we should regard organisations as artificial intelligences, capable of taking decisions that are distinct from the intentions of their members.

ATTENTION STUDENTS: If you need to write a paper on organizational development or organizational design and structure, then this is the perfect reference. It's simple, easy to understand, and right to the point. Organizational Development This book explains organizational development in a way that is easily understood by anyone. It introduces the concept, discusses its stages, describes it in action, highlights its benefits and drawbacks, and suggests methods for its improvement. The text is educational and informational, and it is applicable to real-world organizational change. ...

Discover how Douglas McGregor’s timeless theories continue to shape the future of leadership. In Douglas McGregor and the Human Side of Leadership: Exploring Theory X and Theory Y, you’ll explore one of the most influential frameworks in management history. McGregor’s insights into the assumptions leaders hold about people—whether rooted in control and compliance or trust and empowerment—reveal how these beliefs shape organizational culture, motivation, and performance. This comprehensive book traces the origins of McGregor’s ideas, explains the meaning and impact of Theory X ...

This book offers a concise, accessible guide to the key concepts and applications in Otto Scharmer's classic Theory U. Scharmer argues that our capacity to pay attention coshapes the world. What prevents us from attending to situations more effectively is that we aren't fully aware of that interior condition from which our attention and actions originate. Scharmer calls this lack of awareness our blind spot. He illuminates the blind spot in leadership today and offers hands-on methods to help change makers overcome it through the process, principles, and practices of Theory U.

Academia has produced many motivational theories. Most are well thought, and subsequent research has supported their usefulness and validity. One concern with theses theories, however, is the fact that they were mostly developed in academia using interviews, surveys, or controlled subject groups made up of students or paid participants. Often times, real world application is not part of this process. This eBook examines the gap between academia and the real world. It describes major seven motivational theories and applies them to situations in organizations. Using the examples provided, ...

Your organization's culture can feel like something that has a life of its own; it's long-standing, inherited, and seemingly impermeable - in fact, a strong culture is often an obstacle to doing new things or going in new directions. But leaders are the stewards of a company's culture and have the power to shape it. The best leaders know that organizational culture is a fundamental and powerful management tool that can drive positive outcomes.

In today’s corporate environment it's essential that the people that you employ get along as a team. Professionalism in the workplace is one of the key factors for any business’s success. Throughout this book, the author gives you in-depth guidance, advice, and suggestions on how to turn your employees into a well-oiled team. One that is able to withstand the toughest of problems. Your employees are the backbone of your business. It’s critical that you invest in learning how to change organizational behavior to foster a positive environment.

In the new edition of this fascinating book, a book that has appeared on MSNBC, CNBC, Slashdot.org, Lifehacker.com and in the New York Times, best-selling author Scott Berkun pulls the best lessons from the history of innovation, including the recent software and web age, to reveal powerful and surprising truths about how ideas become successful innovations - truths people can easily apply to the challenges of today.

Tribalism is our most misunderstood buzzword. We’ve all heard pundits bemoan its rise, and it’s been blamed for everything from political polarization to workplace discrimination. But as acclaimed cultural psychologist and Columbia professor Michael Morris argues, our tribal instincts are humanity’s secret weapon.

If you cut off a spider's leg, it's crippled; if you cut off its head, it dies. But if you cut off a starfish's leg it grows a new one, and the old leg can grow into an entirely new starfish. The Starfish and the Spider argues that organizations fall into two categories: "spiders", which have a rigid hierarchy, and "starfish", which rely on the power of peer relationships.

New edition, expanded and updated. With the release of Theory U almost 10 years ago, Otto Scharmer set in motion a revolution in thought. Scharmer explained that what we pay attention to and how we pay attention is key to what we create. What prevents us from attending to situations more effectively is that we aren't fully aware of and in touch with the inner place from which attention and intention originate.

Discover the hidden patterns that shape our world. Nothing exists in isolation. From ecosystems and economies to families, organizations, and digital networks, every part of life is influenced by connections and feedback loops. Webs of Connection: Exploring Systems Theory and Its Real-World Applications introduces readers to the powerful ideas of systems theory, showing how it can be used to understand complexity, solve problems, and build resilience in an unpredictable world. Explore systems in action across science, society, and technology. In this engaging and accessible book, you will ...

Does your job make a meaningful contribution to the world? In the spring of 2013, David Graeber asked this question in a playful, provocative essay titled “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs”. It went viral. After a million online views in 17 different languages, people all over the world are still debating the answer.

ATTENTION STUDENTS: If you need to write a paper on senseless organizational behavior, then this is the perfect reference. It's simple, easy to understand, and right to the point. Many organizations employ obstinate people who behave in ways that hinder others from doing their jobs. Sometimes these individuals have legitimate reasons for their actions, but those reasons are little consolation to the coworkers who are affected. If you are interested in finding out why obstinate employees do the things they do, then read this eBook. You will learn about difficult people and the thinking ...

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS: If you need to write a paper on emotionally intelligent leadership or the application of motivational theories to the real world, then this is the perfect reference. It's simple, easy to understand, and right to the point. Emotionally Intelligent Leadership in Organizations Emotional intelligence and listening go hand-in-hand in most aspects of life. This relationship has application in the business world because it helps create the best leaders possible for achieving organizational growth and prosperity. This book focuses on emotionally intelligent leadership in...

Many people today are so dazzled by the long-term potential for artificial intelligence that they overlook the much clearer and more immediate potential for a new form of "collective intelligence": the intelligence of groups of people and computers working together. In Superminds, Thomas Malone explains what we need to do to take advantage of this potential. Groundbreaking and utterly fascinating, Superminds will change the way you work - both with others and with computers - for the better.