Working in Organisations

By John Bank and Andrew Kakabadse

Book Overview

First published in 2004, this volume recognises that, as society changes, so must its organisations; as organisations change, so must their management competencies. The requirement for organisations to be flexible, innovative and adaptable in environments of increasing complexity and uncertainty is also a requirement of any organisation's most essential resource: its people. They not only work for the organisation - they are the organisation.

The second edition of this highly successful book provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking examination of the operational and strategic skills, demands and responsibilities of the modern workforce, and in particular its management. Reflected here are the manager's new and changing priorities. Attention is given to the manager's role, the motivation to work and succeed, and teamworking. Also emphasised is the new psychological contract, highlighting reliance on self whilst maintaining sensitivity to diversity concerns.

Providing clear and decisive leadership requires the projection of a vision that captures the imagination of others, but inevitably managers face conflict and adversity. Working in Organisations therefore discusses how power and politics can be moulded to positive advantage. The challenges facing organisations go beyond cost and profitability, as political and environmental challenges have forcefully entered into managerial responsibility. The book asks 'What is the ultimate purpose and contribution of organisations?' and highlights profound governance and ethics concerns. The design of organisations is also explored, and how creating appropriate structures will in turn focus resources to achieve desired ends.

This book provides a broad coverage of key issues, ranging from a close examination of the manager's job to a discussion of the corporate and social forces that determine our lives. Written in an easy-to-read style and bursting with case examples, Working in Organisations acts as mentor and guide to those whose quest is for ever greater sustainable accomplishment.

Written by a distinguished team of authors, this book will continue to be welcomed as the definitive text on organisational culture and change for academics, researchers and managers around the world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138370436
• ISBN13: 9781138370432
• Release Date: February 2020
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

PRESENTS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT.

This book is a very comprehensive introduction to the subject of organization, providing an enormous array of major and subtopics. The follow is only a VERY brief sketch of the twelve major chapters: (1) challenges faced by managers (2) the manager's job (characteristics of managerial work, competencies, the person in the job, etc.) (3) the manager's career (attraction, selection, career development, work/life balance) (4) motivation (5) teamworking (6) diversity and individual differences (7) leadership (transactional, transformational, sex and leadership style, discretionary leadership) (8) communication and conflict (9) politics in organization (10) power (seven power levels, etc.) (11) organization design (12) governance (history, definition, models, etc.). The above is only a fleeting glimpse of the wealth of material on each of these subjects which the book delivers. The authors also provide an abundance of figures and tables. This is well organized and very clearly written book. It can serve as a textbook or general reference on organization and management. Practitioners are likely to find it a good source for brushing up on specific topics, for example, a summary of 16 team competencies, a clear description of situational management, or conflict handling skills. The book offers extensive references and a rich bibliography. In all respects, this is an outstanding book in its scope and depth work.