Given the critical role of organizations in shaping every facet of society, an enquiry into the many dimensions of society involves an examination of its organizations. Covering the civil service, hospitals, schools, cooperatives, business firms, development agencies, and trade unions, this reader seeks to develop a distinct identity for the theme of formal organizations in the field of sociological research. Drawing upon different disciplines, these essays discuss important concepts and models and provide an insight into the dynamics of organizations-how they experience and cope with conflicts of ideology, interests, priorities, and goals; and sustain their identities and maintain their boundaries. The reader also examines the extent to which organizations are culture specific, and the manner in which power and politics exhibit themselves. It will be useful for scholars and students of sociology, management, and organizational systems; administrators, managers, activists, and those interested in the working of formal organizations.
