Explorations in Organizations [Hardcover]

Explorations in Organizationspresents readers with contemporary issues in the study of organizations, and introduces the paths down which tomorrow's organizational scholarship might travel. A collection of recent papers by or co-authored by the eminent James G. March, the book consists of five sections: exploring theories of organizational action; novelty in organizational adaptation; institutions and the logic of appropriateness; the history of organization studies; and uses of literature in the study of organizations.Each section begins with a new essay by a scholar whose work has focused on the theme explored in that part of the book. These introductory essays not only introduce and tie together the papers that follow, but also serve to add additional voices to the volume in order to deepen the discussion within it.This collection of recent papers authored or co-authored by James G. March explores contemporary issues in the study of organizations. Jim March is one of our time's leading social scientists and every new article and book from his pen is a treat for the reader. This new book, his third collection of essays, is no exception. There is a vigor and creativity to the arguments that makes these two dozen new articles irresistibly fun and interesting. Read, enjoyand feel inspired! In this third collection of papers (which, together, span five decades!), Jim March continues to inspirenot just with his ideas, but also by being unremittingly exuberant about the pursuit of [them]. In all three collections, economists may find greatest connection to the idea of an organization as a decision-making process proposed by Cyert and March (1963). In each successive decade, March and co-authors have elaborated on this theme; more recently, so have organizational economists. But, whereas Coase (1972) described his 1937 article as much cited and little used, the reverse might be said of March's work: in organizational economics, we use his ideas every lS"