The Organizational Behavior Reader (7th Edition) [Paperback]

Joyce S. Osland (Author), David A. Kolb (Author), Irwin M. Rubin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0130265543 | ISBN-13: 978-0130265548 | Edition: 7th

For courses in Organizational Behavior, Individual Behavior in Organizations, and Industrial Psychology. This perennial favorite conveys the concepts of organizational behavior through experiential learning, using carefully developed group exercises and simulations that have been proven over a period of 30 years. It is designed for professors who want to create a unique, effective, enjoyable learning experience for students.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Reflecting basic concepts, new approaches, and emerging perspectives, this collection of research reports and theoretical essays serves as primary material for students of experiential organizational behavior at any level. Readers are encouraged to incorporate information from the readings with their own experiences and the experiences of others.

Although this book can be used alone, it is designed to complement the exercises and theories presented in the text/workbook Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach, Seventh Edition by the same authors.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

PREFACE

This book is a primer on human behavior in organizations for students of management at three different levels—undergraduate, graduate, and executive education. Our goal in this volume is to prepare employees and managers to diagnose and understand organizational issues and be more effective. The reader includes writings by scholars and practitioners in the key areas of organizational behavior, which have been divided into four sections: "Understanding Yourself and Other People at Work," "Creating Effective Work Groups," "Leadership and Management," and "Managing Effective Organizations." This edition contains basic ideas and concepts, new research findings and practical applications, as well as emerging perspectives that suggest the future shape of the field. In contrast with previous editions, there is more emphasis on international topics, teams, commitment, creativity, diversity, e-commerce, and global business.

Our aim was to compile an exciting collection of significant, theoretical, and practical work that is both reader-friendly and topical. We have read hundreds of articles to find "just the right ones," which can be classified in one or more of the following categories:

1. Classic, ground-breaking articles that, while written years ago, still provide the definitive treatment of a subject and deserve to be read in the scholar's original words
2. Lucid overviews of research findings and theories on a particular topic
3. Descriptions of cutting-edge research
4. Practical guides for managers based on research findings.

For the first time, this edition contains brief chapter introductions to set the stage for readers and provide a glimpse of what they can expect. This book is designed to be used with the text/workbook Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach to Organizational Behavior Seventh Edition, by the same authors. The articles contained herein form a complete package with the exercises and theory contained in the workbook, allowing the student to go through all the phases of the experiential learning process.

Although designed as a companion volume, this collection of readings stands on its own and should be useful to teachers, managers, and consultants for the breadth of viewpoints and the wealth of data that it provides about the field of organizational behavior.

When it comes to acknowledging contributions to this edition, our greatest debt of gratitude goes to Susan Mann, research assistant extraordinaire. Innumerable colleagues have suggested their favorite readings. In particular, we would like to thank Suzanne Adams, Bruce Drake, Howard Feldman, Tom Howe, Asbjorn Osland, Robert Peterson, and Susan Schor for their contributions and opinions. The reviewers of the previous edition were extremely helpful and thorough: John Dopp, Gene Hendrix, Avis Johnson, and Dennis O'Connor. The reference librarians at the University of Portland—Tony Greiner, Susan Hinken, Pam Horan, Torie Scott, Heidi Senior, as well as the director, Rich Hines—all went well above the call of duty in tracking down articles and citations. Carol Henson, Susan Mann, Jessica Osland and Debra Stephens deserve thiinks for their proof readings contributions. Ron Hill, dean at the University of Portland's business school, and the Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. Foundation have provided support for this project. Finally, we're very grateful to Melissa O'Neill, Gwynn Klobes, Michael Kuchler, and the student workers at the University of Portland business school who cheerfully lent a helping hand to this project.

It was pleasure, as always, to work with the Prentice Hall crew: David Shafer, Jennifer Glennon, Michele Foresta, Judy Leale, Kim Marsden, and the unflappable Cindy Spreder.

In addition to colleagues and publishing staff, an effort like this reader is also the culmination of numerous family sacrifices, favors, and opinions. We owe a special debt of gratitude, in partyicular, to Asbjorn, Jessica and Carol, and also to Michael, Katrina, Ellie and Anna.

Joyce S. Osland
David A. Kolb
Irwin M. Rubin

Product Details

• Paperback: 594 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 7th edition (August 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130265543
• ISBN-13: 978-0130265548
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,230,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-grounded OB course basics, April 2, 2003

By 

Peter Lorenzi (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Organizational Behavior Reader (7th Edition) (Paperback)

"The organizational behavior reader" contains twenty chapters, each with two or three readings by recognized academic experts, usually adapted from the original source, e.g., Harvard Business Review. Chapters begin with the psychological contract (1), theories of managing people (2), individual and organizational learning (3), individual and organizational motivation (4), ethics and values (5), personal growth and work stress (6), and later topics include managing diversity (12), leadership (13), decision making (15), performance appraisal (18), and managing change (20). The pantheon of authors features experts such as Henry Mintzberg, Jay Conger, Denise Rousseau, Ed Lawler, Peter Senge, Cary Cooper, Deborah Tannen, Geert Hofstede, Hank Sims, Victor Vroom, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Ray Miles, and Rosabeth Moss Kanter. There are numerous charts, diagrams, graphs and models. Anecdotes and examples are plentiful. Self-assessments are rare. Few of the readings offer empirical data; the emphasis is on mental models, images, and concepts.

Professors of organizational behavior, looking for readings rather than integrated text, exercises, and cases, as well as a less expensive alternative to traditional college textbooks, will find this book appealing. These authors are, in general, engaging and highly readable. Chapters can be assigned in an order or avoided altogether to please the teacher's preferences. The breadth of topics, the currency of the treatments, and the expertise of the authors provide a solid foundation for the primary college OB course. Graduate students in need of less text structure and faculty in need of less ancillary materials will find the most benefit.

The book is rooted in social psychology and emphasizes perception, learning, thinking, images and personality, e.g., interpersonal communication, attribution, creativity. There is less on the `behavior' side of organizational behavior. Several authors use the device of posing `myths' to contrast with the author's learned, alternative state (`fact'), and sometimes the myths read more like `conventional wisdom' or the author's own attempt to make his or her point more vivid by presenting a myth that exists only in the minds of a few people. For business school students, this reader is more about organizations and people than about business. Business faculty and courses adopting this book will likely want and need to provide a management context.

5.0 out of 5 stars fast delivery, June 23, 2009

By 

A. DARSI "Darcy" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Organizational Behavior Reader (7th Edition) (Paperback)

As promised and per the condition advertised in the website. Thank You - will re-buy