Seeing Organizational Patterns [Paperback]

Robert W. Keidel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1587982595 | ISBN-13: 978-1587982590

Keidel uses his now-famous triangles and other geometric mind-aids to provoke new perspectives on organizational design. Those in search of new lenses and language for assessing companies will be delighted.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Every manager in every sector and at every level is challenged by organizational complexities. This book explains that most organizational issues are a balance of three variables: individual autonomy, hierarchical control, and spontaneous cooperation. By learning to frame issues as tradeoffs among these variables, one can see underlying patterns that previously had not been visibl--and thereby make more intelligent analyses, choices, and commitments than would otherwise be possible.

From the Inside Flap

Today, as was true in 1995 when this book first appeared, every manager in every sector and at every level is challenged by organizational complexities-- demands and data from all directions. In order to make sense of this complexity, managers, consultants, and academics have devised a multitude of organizational models. However, nearly all of these models turn out to be of limited real-world utility because either they oversimplify reality by focusing on just one or two variables or they are themselves as complex as the reality they are trying to simplify. Seeing Organizational Patterns present a third option--a new prism for viewing organizational design that is neither simplistic nor unduly complicated.

Robert Keidel explains that most organizational issues are a balance of three variables: individual autonomy, hierarchical control, and spontaneous cooperation. By learning to frame issues as tradeoffs among these design variables, one can see underlying patterns that previously had not been visible--and thereby make more intelligent analyses, choices and commitments than would otherwise be possible. It is easy to see why this book was nominated for the Academy of Management's 1996 George R. Terry Book Award.

From Harold W. Burlingame, Senior Vice President, AT&T:

Keidel identifies the organizational design challenges facing today's global corporations and provides a helpful and comprehensive framework upon which to develop organizational strategy.

From Ian Scott, Director, Organization & Business Practices, The World Bank:

Keidel's triadic framework for understanding organizational issues is elegant, robust, and in my experience , broadly applicable. More important, it works. This book should find a place beside the best known, most read books on organization and management.

From Charles B. Wang, Chairman & CEO, Computer Associates International:

Keidel doesn't simplify management complexities--he clarifies them. [This] is must reading for serious students who demand rigorous analysis.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Beard Books (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587982595
• ISBN-13: 978-1587982590
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,698,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)