Social Organizations: Interaction Inside, Outside and Between Organizations

by Goran Ahrne and Göran Ahrne

Book Overview

In this lively and wide-ranging essay, G ran Ahrne sketches an organizational theory of society. Combining the insights of organization theory with the traditional concerns of social theory, he makes an innovative and creative contribution to both fields.

Using a broad definition of organizations, the author shows that what goes on inside, outside and among organizations is central to understanding social relations. Organizations provide people...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803989210
• ISBN13: 9780803989214
• Release Date: August 1994
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

How is society really organized?

In 'Social Organizations...' Ahrne elaborates on the organizational theory of society first presented in 'Agency and Organizations. Towards an organizational theory of society'(1990, Sage). Starting with resource dependence and asset specificity, common concepts in organization theory and other disciplines, Ahrne argues successfully for a view of organizations as some of the main actors in society. He further manages to explain how it is both possible and fruitful to view both companies, interest organizations, nation states and families as organizations, without ending in a watered down definition lacking content or usage. When reading this book it becomes clear four years past since the release of 'Agency and Organization': Ahrnes ideas are better structured, definitions and arguments have been sharpened and he has found more examples to back up his ideas. The first book had the subtitle 'towards an organizational theory of society'. with this book, Ahrne has taken a hughe step in the right direction. And it is nice to see that the overall improvements in the structuiring of the ideas have not made the book any duller than its' precursor: Just like the last book, reading this one is great fun.