This clear, intellectually engaging introduction reviews the field of organization studies—its past, its present and its likely areas of significant future development. Specifically, it surveys the development of rational, natural and open systems theories—from earlier to contemporary versions—and provides a framework to allow students to comprehend past and present theories and to understand current controversies. While attending to the contributions of other disciplines to the understanding of organizations, the approach taken is primarily sociological. The arguments are addressed not only to current and future managers, but to anyone who is obliged to live and work in a society dominated by organizations.