Understanding Organisations: Organisational Theory and Practice in India

Organisations play a crucial role in our day-to-day life though most of us are unaware of it. They permeate and pervade almost all aspects of our lives and their significance cannot therefore be overemphasized. This easy-to-read and compact book on Organisational Theory (OT) gives an account of what an organisation is and how it operates. It shows that organisations are not static entities, but are dynamic: capable of growing, changing, failing or transforming themselves. The book begins with a discussion on the perspectives and approaches needed for understanding, designing and changing organisations. It then goes on to give a description of the building blocks and the various influences that determine organisational design. The author rightly emphasizes that the ideal organisation is one that is adaptive to a specific situation. He tells not only what an organisation is, but shows how it functions, for instance, how decisions are taken, how conflicts and power interact in moulding an organisation, how values and norms influence performance, and so on. Finally, the author stresses how organisations change or are transformed or why some do not change, and highlights emerging issues in organisational design. What distinguishes the text is its Indian background. The author skillfully elucidates organisational theory with real-life examples from well-known Indian Organi-sations. Intended as a textbook for the students of Management, this study should also be ideal for practising managers, consultants and teachers.