Organizational Processes

Table of Contents

Foreword

1. The Concept of Process

• The Process Approach
• Alternative Paradigms
• Comparisons of Paradigms
• Preview

2. Goals and Goal Formation

• Uses of Goals
  • Decisional Uses
  • Descriptive Uses
  • Exhortative Uses
  • Analysis of Conflict
• Goal Formation and Stabilization
• Counterarguments
• Discussion

3. Coalitions and Cliques

• Theories of Formation Methods
  • Psychological Theories
  • Political Science/Economics/Bargaining Theories
  • Organizational Milieu Theories
  • Process Theories
• Areas Affected
  • Goals and Objectives
  • Problems Attended to
  • Reward and Task Systems
  • Decision-Making Processes
  • Productivity and Efficiency

4. Standard Operating Procedures

• Dimensions of Problematic Situations
• SOPs Considered as Decision Procedures
• SOPs and Organizational Behavior
• Designing and Altering SOPs
• Examples of SOPs

5. Management by Objectives

• The Method and Philosophy of MBO
• The Theory Behind MBO
• The Implementation of MBO
• Reports from Practice

6. Organizational Problem-Solving

• Problem Recognition and Formulation
• Search Processes
  • Reactive Search
  • Circumscribed Search
  • Opportunistic Search
  • Idiomatic Search
• Normative Search Procedures

7. Control and Coordination

• Methods of Achieving Control
  • Reasoning and Logic
  • Goals
  • Rules
  • Power and Authority
  • Influence
  • Training and Habit
  • Work Norm Groups
• Relatively Uncontrollable Activities
• Methods of Achieving Coordination
  • Plans, Schedules and Deadlines
  • Meetings
  • Feedback and Communication
  • Decoupling Devices
• Overview

8. Line-Staff Relationships

• Development of the Line-Staff Concepts
• Line and Staff as Issues in Organizational Design
• Conflict Between Line and Staff
  • Causes
  • Effects
  • Resolution
• Staff Groups as Organizational Problem-Solving Mechanisms

9. Organizational Effectiveness

• Definitions
• Process Framework
• Partially Determining Factors
• Empirical Studies

Name Index

Subject Index