Foundations Of Theory Of Organizations
Foundations of the Theory of Organization
Author(s): Philip Selznick
Source: American Sociological Review, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb., 1948), pp. 25-35
Published by: American Sociological Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2086752 .
Accessed: 21/01/2015 11:43
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American Sociological Review.
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FOUNDATIONS
OF THE THEORY
PHILIP
T
OF ORGANIZATION*
SELZNICK
Universityof California,
Los Angeles
business formalstructurebecomessubject to calcuunions,governments, an instrument politicalparties,and the lable manipulation, corporations, of rational in thesense action. like are formalstructures rationallyorderedinstru- But as we inspecttheseformalstructures thattheyrepresent mentsfor the achievementof stated goals. we begin to see that theyneversucceedin we are told,"is thearrange- conqueringthe non-rationaldimensionsof
"Organization,"
ment of personnelfor facilitatingthe ac- organizational behavior.The latterremainat to thecontinuedexistence complishmentof some agreed purpose onceindispensable throughthe allocationof functionsand re- of the systemof coordinationand at the sponsibilities."'Or, definedmoregenerally, same time the sourceof friction,dilemma, formalorganizationis "a systemof con- doubt,and ruin.This
Author(s): Philip Selznick
Source: American Sociological Review, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Feb., 1948), pp. 25-35
Published by: American Sociological Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2086752 .
Accessed: 21/01/2015 11:43
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp .
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
.
American Sociological Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to
American Sociological Review.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 153.9.241.102 on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 11:43:06 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
FOUNDATIONS
OF THE THEORY
PHILIP
T
OF ORGANIZATION*
SELZNICK
Universityof California,
Los Angeles
business formalstructurebecomessubject to calcuunions,governments, an instrument politicalparties,and the lable manipulation, corporations, of rational in thesense action. like are formalstructures rationallyorderedinstru- But as we inspecttheseformalstructures thattheyrepresent mentsfor the achievementof stated goals. we begin to see that theyneversucceedin we are told,"is thearrange- conqueringthe non-rationaldimensionsof
"Organization,"
ment of personnelfor facilitatingthe ac- organizational behavior.The latterremainat to thecontinuedexistence complishmentof some agreed purpose onceindispensable throughthe allocationof functionsand re- of the systemof coordinationand at the sponsibilities."'Or, definedmoregenerally, same time the sourceof friction,dilemma, formalorganizationis "a systemof con- doubt,and ruin.This