International Encyclopedia of Organization Studies

Organization studies, although a relatively recent notion, has roots that go back at least to the early days of the twentieth century. The study of how people construct organizations, how they use the structures, processes, and practices that they have designed, and how these, in turn, use people, organize social relations, construct institutions, organize them, and, consecutively, enable them to organize us—has matured along multiple fronts. Over the last two decades more diverse approaches, drawing on more qualitative and ethnographic styles of research, have predominated. This Encyclopedia represents both the older and the newer styles of work, with their respective concerns.

The International Encyclopedia of Organization Studies is the definitive description of the field, spanning individual, organizational, societal, and cultural perspective in a cross-disciplinary manner. The old model of a North American core exporting its domain assumptions to the rest of the world, while by no means absent, is less marked than it used to be. Thus, editors Stewart R. Clegg and James R. Bailey have sought to capture much of the cutting-edge thinking that characterizes the best scholarship—in the United States and elsewhere. The Encyclopedia is thoroughly cross-referenced, and entries are based around a series of broad themes.

Key Features

• Offers a comprehensive overview of many of the major ideas, concepts, terms, and approaches that characterize this diverse field of organization studies
• Illustrates the fluidity, dynamism, and innovation that now occur in organization studies—internationally
• Brings together a team of international contributors from the fields of management, psychology, sociology, communications, education, political science, public administration, anthropology, law, and other related areas
• Examines how organizations are devices for structuring life and lives are structured by organizations

Key Themes

• Approaches to Organization Theory
• Approaches to Management Theory
• Culture and Symbolism
• Human Resource Management
• International Approaches
• Issues in Organization Practices
• Issues in Organizational Structure
• Innovation and Creativity
• Knowledge and Learning
• Leadership Theory
• Organizational Behavior
• Organizational Cognition, Change, and Communication
• Organizational Economics
• Organizational Relations
• Organizational Power, Politics, and Conflict
• Philosophy of Organizations
• Research Practice and Methodology
• Social Issues
• Teams
• Technologies

The International Encyclopedia of Organization Studies is the premier reference tool for students, educators, scholars, and practitioners to gather knowledge about a range of important topics from the unique perspective of organization studies with extensive international representation.