However, organization theory is not a static or unified body of knowledge. It is constantly evolving and changing in response to new challenges and opportunities in the organizational world. Different perspectives and approaches have emerged over time, each with its own assumptions, methods, and contributions. Some of these approaches are more descriptive and analytical, while others are more normative and prescriptive. Some focus more on the internal aspects of organizations, while others emphasize the external influences and contingencies. Some adopt a more rational and formal view of organizations, while others highlight the social and cultural aspects.
One of the recent developments in organization theory is the practice based approach. This approach moves away from the traditional linear narrative approach of other textbooks, which present organization theory as a chronological sequence of schools or paradigms. Instead, it addresses the subject in an exciting new way that is appealing to today's students and practitioners. The practice based approach identifies the key questions, problems, and issues that practitioners face in their everyday work and then discusses the relevant theories that can help them make sense of and deal with these challenges. The practice based approach also covers topics that are not always included in other textbooks, such as boundary spanning, leadership, quality management, strategic change, and developmental psychology/organizational learning.
A good example of a textbook that adopts the practice based approach is Organization Theory: A Practice Based Approach by Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist, Tomas MÃllern, and Alexander Styhre . This textbook was published by OUP Oxford in 2011 and has 328 pages. It is divided into four parts: Part I introduces the practical value of organization and management theory; Part II covers managing systems and technology; Part III covers managing people; and Part IV covers managing change and processes. Each chapter starts with a reflection point that poses a question or a problem related to the topic of the chapter. Then, it presents the relevant theories that can help answer or solve the question or problem. Finally, it ends with a minicase that illustrates how the theories apply to a real-life situation.
The practice based approach is not only useful for students who want to learn about organization theory in a more engaging and relevant way, but also for practitioners who want to improve their organizational performance and effectiveness. By using the practice based approach, practitioners can identify the key issues and challenges that they face in their work environment and then use the appropriate theories to guide their actions and decisions. The practice based approach can also help practitioners to reflect on their own assumptions and practices and to learn from their experiences.
If you are interested in learning more about organization theory and the practice based approach, you can check out the following resources:
[Organization Theory: A Practice Based Approach] by Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist, Tomas MÃllern, and Alexander Styhre
[The Practice Approach: For a Praxeology of Organisational and Management Studies] by Davide Nicolini
[Organization Theory] by Mary Jo Hatch
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