Organization Theory and Design [Hardcover]

Richard L. Daft (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 032415691X | ISBN-13: 978-0324156911 | Publication Date: July 8, 2003 | Edition: 8

Richard Daft's best-selling text, Organization Theory and Design, integrates the most recent thinking about organizations, classic ideas and theories, and real world practice, in a way that is interesting and enjoyable for learners. This edition includes many updates including a new chapter on international issues and revisions of other chapters to include the most recent ideas and events. While organization studies and real world examples are insightful for understanding organizations and solve real-world problems, Daft also integrates numerous features that give learners opportunity to apply concepts and develop skills and insights.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard L. Daft, PhD, the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Professor of Management in the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Professor Daft specializes in the study of organization theory and leadership. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Management and has served on the editorial boards of Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly and Journal of Management Education. He was the Associate Editor-in-Chief of Organization Science and associate editor of Administrative Science Quarterly. Professor Daft has authored or co-authored 12 books as well as dozens of scholarly articles, papers, and chapters. His work has been published in Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Accounting Organizations and Society, MIS Quarterly, and many others. Professor Daft is currently completing a new book, THE EXECUTIVE AND THE ELEPHANT. An active teacher and consultant, Dr. Daft has taught management, leadership, organizational change, organizational theory, and organizational behavior. He has served as associate dean and managed a start-up enterprise. A well-known management consultant, he has assisted numerous well-know organizations, including the American Banking Association, Bridgestone, the National Transportation Research Board, Nortel, TVA, Pratt & Whitney, State Farm Insurance, Tenneco, United States Air Force, Central Parking System, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 656 pages
• Publisher: South-Western College Pub; 8 edition (July 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 032415691X
• ISBN-13: 978-0324156911
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The learning book, July 23, 2005

By 

Eran Cohen (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Organization Theory and Design (Hardcover)

"Organization Theory and Design" is a book every corporate member that has aspirations to better understand and contribute to his organization should own.

I used this book studying a basic course of organizational behavior after the professor had referred to it as "the best text on the market". I found out he was right - the book is extremely well-written and its contribution to my understanding of the subject is invaluable.

As it happened, I partly read older versions of the book to find out how every few years Mr. Daft updates his analysis, insights and examples of the ever changing and evolving world of organizations; for instance, the past example of IBM that served as the major opening example of an organization that has gone from the top of the world to the brink of disintegration in the beginning of the 90's (and since then regained leading position in its areas of expertise), is replaced in this 8th edition with Xerox. Mr. Daft continues and presents the most recent developments in organizations' design - structures and management methods that have only emerged lately in response to the turbulences in the environments and competition worldwide.

By making the changes and improvements in every edition "Organization theory and design" wins the title of this review - "the learning book" - that mirror images the main theme of this work - "the learning organization". Almost no organization can stand still in today's reality - managers and workers have to constantly think of better ways of doing things and learn from every source that bears knowledge and can give the organization a better competitive advantage. Things have never moved so fast and threats and opportunities have never been so immense. Competitors have to be efficient and different to survive and stay on the top.

The structure of the book is designed to convey its ideas in the best possible manner: Each and every chapter opens with an example illustrating its content, then an introduction to the subject. Theory and examples from today's organizational world followa and are interwoven throughout the text in the "in practice" section. A fascinating section is "leading by design" in which Mr. Daft highlights top-of-the-line companies that have managed to materialize the theory and consequently lead their industries. Yet another remarkable feature is "bookmark" in which the autohor recommends and actually reviews the content of other books that further develop the subject the chapter dealt with. For me, the magnitude of this behavior is unprecedented; I haven't read a book that is so much interested in advancing and advertising works of fellow authors. This is a code of conduct every author can learn from in pursuing the ultimate goal - to better inform and educate his/her readers.

Some of the material the book covers include the organizational environment, organizational structures, organizational decision making processes, ethics, organization-decline and organizational politics.

As is the norm in many books, Mr. Daft integrates case studies directly connected to the content of each chapter in its end. They add all the more to the reality dimension that is so strong throughout the book.

Lastly, the price of this book is somewhat expensive but well worth the money and will certainly prove to be a wise investment. Years after its reaing and studying it may serve as a reference source when the reader will stumble across situations covered in the book and learn to appreciate even more the lessons insights Mr. daft offers.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Save on Money, November 2, 2008

By 

T. Barnes (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organization Theory and Design (Hardcover)

The seller was very nice and sent the book quickly. I use the book for my class even though the class calls for the 9th Edition. It saved me so much in money and the same infomation is in the 8th Edition.