The Study of Organizations: Positions, Persons, and Patterns [Paperback]

Readers are introduced to basic terms and principles used in the study of organizations as an invitation to further learning. The approach blends classical writing on organizations with current research and examples illustrating key elements of positions, patterns, and persons. A discussion of role analysis shows how these elements enter into the actual behavior of participants. Discussions of such topics as interaction and bureaucracy and a unique chapter on paperwork and record-keeping are presented.LARRY C. INGRAM is Professor of Sociology at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He is a contributor to scholarly journals, and is active in several professional organizations.

Introduction: An Invitation, A Look at the Past, A Definition
A Place in the Sun: Finding a Position
What's in a Name? The Significance of Position
When the Shoe Doesn't Fit: Constructing a Role
A Silent Struggle behind The Mask: Person and Self
Is Anybody Out There? Interaction
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Role Conflicts
If the Opportunity Presents Itself: Secondary Adjustment
It's in the File: Paperwork and Record-keeping
A Rose by Any Other Name: Bureaucracy
The Strength of Numbers: Corporate Structure
Concluding Remarks: Is This the End of the Line?