Organisational theory is vitally relevant to today's student of business. Understanding Business Organisationsintroduces the student to classic debates and new perspectives on organisations through a wide ranging but approachable selection of readings. This text: * considers why organisations matter to employees and customers * discusses theories of the organisation as a mode of empowerment and of control. Examining these theories in the light of current programmes of organisational change gives the book a case study element that will be invaluable for teaching and learning.Graeme Salamanis Professor of Organisation Studies at The Open University, where he is a Director of the Business Studies programme. He has written more than fifty books and articles in the area of organisational analysis, the sociology of work and strategic human resource management.