The Structuring of Organizations [Paperback]

Henry Mintzberg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0138552703 | ISBN-13: 978-0138552701 | Publication Date: January 7, 1979 | Edition: 1st

Book is a synthesis of the empirical literature currently available on organizational structuring. A framework is developed enabling students to handle organizational problems. For use as a supplement in upper level Organizational Design courses in Management.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Book is a synthesis of the empirical literature currently available on organizational structuring. A framework is developed enabling students to handle organizational problems. For use as a supplement in upper level Organizational Design courses in Management.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (January 7, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0138552703
• ISBN-13: 978-0138552701
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic book on organization structuring, December 11, 2001

By 

José A. Sánchez Villanueva - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Structuring of Organizations (Paperback)

Mintzberg's book is one of those papers that must be read for anyone interested in the drives that shape the organization structure. It's well organized and starts out by the basics as coordination mechanisms and dives into the driving forces (internal and externals) through all the literature available by that time.
Its final explanation of the structure as the outcome of forces and drives shed insight into structure as an outcome (affected even by fashions). This envision is clear even if new forces are uncovered by the experts.
On the drawbacks side, the book is slightly out of date regarding the research background for a nowdays reader(not its fault since the book is 20 years old), some chapters as the impact of some factors in structuring are padded out and the human being behavior impact is lightly treated. Some outlooks have failed (20 aditional years gives you some "foresight" to see why they went wrong, which is funny).
All in all, even if it's slightly outdated, it is worth to have a go at it. It's easy to read and offer a good overview.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The basics about organisations !, November 15, 2008

By 

Eric Schmitz (Leuven, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Structuring of Organizations (Paperback)

If you want to understand organisations, if you want to understand why there are different organisations, if you want to understand how to improve your organisationstructure, then please read this book careful and several times.
It explains the different groups within the organisation and what thier role is.
The book itself is not a workbook with action steps and so on. It is theoretical and you will have till to do your homework yourself.
But it helps your thinking in terms of structure and roles within an organisation.

5.0 out of 5 stars What is a bureaucracy?, December 30, 2010

By 

Hans Lodder - Results2Match - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Structuring of Organizations (Paperback)

This book gives a perfect answer to the question: what is a bureaucracy. It goes into the scientific details, but also provides much practical advice.