Management and Organisational Behaviour [antikvár]

Introduction The concepts and ideas presented in this book provide a basis for the critical appraisal of contrasting perspectives on the structure, operation and management of organisations, and interactions among people who work in them. It is hoped that this will encourage a greater level of awareness of, and sensitivity to, the organisational factors and management processes influencing the behaviour and performance of people at work. Learning objectives To: explain the main features about this book and the fifth edition; set out the plan of the book; provide a guide to your study of the book; comment on the changing nature of work organisations; explain the study of management and organisational behaviour; outline the relevance of theory; explain the use and value of case studies. PART 1 ¦ MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR About this book The aims of this book The scope of this book However much of a chché it may sound, it is still an inescapable fact that people are the main resource of any organisation. Without its members, an organisation is nothing; an organisation is only as good as the people who work within it. In today's increasingly global and competitive environment the effective management of people is even more important for organisational success. According to Alderman Sir Roger Cork, Lord Mayor of London: Eighty per cent of business failures ate down to bad management.^ It has become acceptable in some areas to regard the academic study of management as at best esoteric and at worst irrelevant. Mastering Management is based on the belief that an academic approach to the study of management has much of real relevance for practising managers. Financial Times Mastering Management Series^ This book presents a managerial approach to organisational behaviour. It is concerned with interactions among the structure and operation of organisations, the process of management and the behaviour of people at work. The underlying theme of the book is the need for organisational effectiveness and the importance of the role of management as an integrating activity. The aims of this book are to: • relate the study of organisational behaviour to that of management; • provide an integrated view embracing both theory and practice; • point out applications of behavioural science within work organisations and implications for management action; • indicate ways in which organisational performance may be improved through the better use of human resources and the management of people. It is hoped that the book will appeal to students at undergraduate, graduate or post-experience level in business or management, or on related professional courses. It is also hoped that the book will appeal not only to those aspiring to a managerial position but to practising managers and supervisors who wish to expand their knowledge of the subject area. The book is written with a minimum of technical terminology and the format is clearly structured. Each chapter contains a short introduction, learning objectives, a synopsis of key points, review and discussion questions, detailed notes and references, and assignment{s) and/or case(s). While a prior knowledge of behavioural science would prove useful to the reader, it is not assumed. Neither is such knowledge a necessary prerequisite for an understanding of the concepts and ideas discussed in this book. No single book could hope to cover adequately all aspects of what is a wide and essentially multi-disciplinary field of inquiry, and it is not the intention to attempt to cover all aspects of individual or social behaviour. It is regrettable but inevitable therefore that some topics are excluded or given only limited coverage and it is not possible to meet fully the preferences of all readers. In order to attain a reasonable depth, this book concentrates on selected topics of particular relevance to problems of organisation and the management of people in work situations, and which meet the needs of the intended audience.