Organization: Contemporary Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 1

Organization and Its Importance

WHAT THIS CHAPTER COVERS

This book focuses on new trends and options in how we organize collective activity. The present chapter defines the key terms organizing, organization, and organizations. It then introduces the components of organization. Some of these are structural in nature, some are concerned with key processes, while others define boundaries. The components of organization are the parameters along which policy choices have to be made. Although there are limits to what the design of organization can achieve, these policy choices are highly consequential because serious problems can arise from inappropriate organization. The chapter closes with examples of such problems and a checklist to help identify their symptoms.

Purpose and Scope of This Book

In contemporary societies most work, and a good deal of leisure activity too, is carried out in cooperation with other people – it is collective. Often people are working with others in the same location, but increasingly it can involve collaboration across physical distances through Internet and satellite connections. The aim of this book is to provide you with useful insights into how good organization is a foundation for success in collective activity.

Although the book focuses on business companies, much of its content is also applicable to the many public and not-for-profit institutions ...