Combining the insights of organization theory with the traditional concerns of social theory, this text aims to construct an organizational theory of society. Using a broad definition of organizations, including not only business enterprises but also nation states, families and voluntary associations, the author shows that what goes on inside, outside and between organizations is central to understanding social relation. He argues that although organizations do not themselves form societies or systems, society is shaped and changed by interaction between organizations. The book illustrates the potential of an organizational theory of society to illuminate current areas of sociological interest, such as agency and structure and the process of globalization. It draws on different strands of organization theory - contingency, institutional, ecological and economic - to show how a synthesis with social theory clarifies the nature and effects of organizational interactions. The text should be of interest to anyone interested in social theory, organizational theory and the sociology of organizations.
