Organization Theory and Governance for the 21st Century is a core text for the organization theory course that provides students with both theoretical grounding and practical application. The objective of the text is to expose students to post-traditional theory as well as to “operationalize” theory, showing clearly how it's been applied and with what impact. The book first covers the classical foundations of organization theory, beginning with rationalist approaches and the behavioral revolution, and then delving into the diversity of network theory, chaos and complexity, structural-functionalism, and transaction cost economics. The authors then demonstrate how these theories are operationalized; i.e. how they can be applied to various management and administrative functions, including managing individual behavior, affecting organizational change, understanding and shaping group dynamics, and managing organization/environment relations. The final section introduces students to post-traditional theory, links back to classical foundations, and demonstrates how these theories are being applied in organizations involved in governance. Austin and Parkes also discuss the implications and provide critiques of these theories. Valuable case studies bring the material to life; the authors identify both historical contexts and “current expressions,” or contemporary examples of these theories at work. Reflection questions throughout each chapter, end-of-chapter discussion questions, and bolded key concepts facilitate a deeper understanding of the material and prompt students to extrapolate what they've learned and engage in further analysis.

Conclusion: This Is the Beginning

Conclusion: This is the beginning

Over the past ten chapters, we have introduced a wide range of approaches to both studying and effectively working in governance organizations. In this last chapter, we want to figuratively step back and reflect on that material and consider how this is the beginning of your exploration of organizations, not the end. In order to do that, we start with a top ten list designed to highlight and organize what we view to be some of the key takeaways that emerge through the course of the book. From there, our summary reflections continue with a review of two overlapping themes in the book. One theme has to do with the historical and contextual development ...

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