Understanding Organization Theory
PART
I
What is Organization Theory? theorist /’ Ιər Ιst/ n. a holder or inventor of a theory or theories. theorize/’ ΙəraΙz/ v. intr. (also -ise) evolve or indulge in theories. theorizer n. theory /’ ΙərΙ / n. (pl. -ies) 1 a supposition or system of ideas explaining something, esp. one based on general principles independent of the particular things to be explained (opp.
HYPOTHESIS)
(atomic theory; theory of evolution). 2 a specula-
tive (esp. fanciful) view (one of my pet theories). 3 the sphere of abstract knowledge or speculative thought (this is all very well in theory, but how will it work in practice?). 4 the exposition of the principles of a science etc. (the theory of music). 5 Math. a collection of propositions to illustrate the principles of a subject (probability theory; theory of equations). [LL theoria – – – – f. Gk theo ria f. theo ros spectator f. theo reo look at] Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary
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Why Study Organization Theory?
Organization theory is not an easy sell. Unless you are naturally drawn to the abstract, you probably expect this subject to be dry, unconnected to practical matters and perhaps a little boring. Even if you are enthusiastic about abstractions, it can be daunting to confront as many of them at one time as organization theory asks you to do. So why would anyone sign up to study this complex and difficult subject matter? There are many different answers to this question. For some, studying organization theory is motivated by curiosity. They wonder what it would be like to think like an organization, to get inside organizing processes far enough to reveal the intricate organizational patterns that make organizations understandable. Others are motivated by the attraction of stretching their minds in new ways. For example, organization theory draws on the sciences, the humanities and the arts, and
I
What is Organization Theory? theorist /’ Ιər Ιst/ n. a holder or inventor of a theory or theories. theorize/’ ΙəraΙz/ v. intr. (also -ise) evolve or indulge in theories. theorizer n. theory /’ ΙərΙ / n. (pl. -ies) 1 a supposition or system of ideas explaining something, esp. one based on general principles independent of the particular things to be explained (opp.
HYPOTHESIS)
(atomic theory; theory of evolution). 2 a specula-
tive (esp. fanciful) view (one of my pet theories). 3 the sphere of abstract knowledge or speculative thought (this is all very well in theory, but how will it work in practice?). 4 the exposition of the principles of a science etc. (the theory of music). 5 Math. a collection of propositions to illustrate the principles of a subject (probability theory; theory of equations). [LL theoria – – – – f. Gk theo ria f. theo ros spectator f. theo reo look at] Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary
01-Hatch-Chap01.qxd
12/1/06
08:24 AM
Page 2
01-Hatch-Chap01.qxd
12/1/06
08:24 AM
Page 3
1
Why Study Organization Theory?
Organization theory is not an easy sell. Unless you are naturally drawn to the abstract, you probably expect this subject to be dry, unconnected to practical matters and perhaps a little boring. Even if you are enthusiastic about abstractions, it can be daunting to confront as many of them at one time as organization theory asks you to do. So why would anyone sign up to study this complex and difficult subject matter? There are many different answers to this question. For some, studying organization theory is motivated by curiosity. They wonder what it would be like to think like an organization, to get inside organizing processes far enough to reveal the intricate organizational patterns that make organizations understandable. Others are motivated by the attraction of stretching their minds in new ways. For example, organization theory draws on the sciences, the humanities and the arts, and
References: Modernist perspective Bertalanffy, Ludwig von (1950) Symbolic-interpretive perspective Schütz, Alfred (1967)