A proven framework for effective leadership, newly updated and revised
The new 8th edition of Reframing Organizations provides powerful, time-tested guidance for organizational leadership. Rooted in decades of social science research, Bolman and Deal's four-frame model has withstood the test of time with its accessible and incisive ideas for navigating complexity and turbulence. The latest research from organizational theory, organizational behavior, psychology, sociology, and political science is enlivened with new cases that illustrate real-world applications of the concepts in the book. The new edition is updated with material on current topics like AI, job crafting, agility, gig work, and intersectionality. The book continues to engage readers with clear and lively writing.
Since its creation more than 40 years ago, Bolman and Deal’s four-frame model has become a widely used and influential framework for leadership, sense-making, cross-sector collaboration, and navigating organizational complexity.
Readers will find:
- In-depth explorations of Bolman and Deal’s Structural, Human Resource, Political, and Symbolic frames.
- Vivid and instructive case examples of prominent leaders and organizations (including Elon Musk at DOGE, Reed Hastings at Netflix, Mary Barra at General Motors, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Hilton Hotels, and video game maker Valve).
- Pithy and accessible summaries of some of the most important and influential works in research on organizations and leadership.
- Coverage of important similarities and differences across business, government, education, and not-for-profit organizations
Reframing Organizations is a must-read for students, managers, executives and anyone seeking powerful and provocative ways to read organizational dynamics and lead effectively in a challenging and turbulent world. Bolman & Deal blend research, theory and practice to offer readers insights and strategies for achieving both personal and organizational goals.
Table of Contents:
Preface ix
Part One Making Sense of Organizations 1
1 Introduction: The Power of Reframing 3
2 Simple Ideas, Complex Organizations 25
Part Two The Structural Frame 43
3 Getting Organized 45
4 Structure and Restructuring 75
5 Organizing Groups and Teams 97
Part Three The Human Resource Frame 115
6 People and Organizations 117
7 Improving Human Resource Management 141
8 Interpersonal and Group Dynamics 165
Part Four The Political Frame 187
9 Power, Conflict, and Coalition 189
10 The Manager as Politician 211
11 Organizations as Political Arenas and Political Agents 229
Part Five The Symbolic Frame 251
12 Organizational Symbols and Culture 255
13 Culture in Action 281
14 Organization as Theater 295
Part Six Improving Leadership Practice 313
15 Integrating Frames for Effective Practice 315
16 Reframing in Action: Opportunities and Perils 331
17 Leadership in Theory and Practice 345
18 Reframing Leadership 369
19 Reframing Change in Organizations 385
20 Reframing Ethics and Spirit 411
21 Bringing It All Together: Change and Leadership in Action 425
Epilogue: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership 445
Appendix: The Best of Organizational Studies 449
Bibliography 453
Acknowledgments 517
About the Authors 521
Name Index 523
Subject Index 531
About the Author :
LEE G. BOLMAN is a Lecturer at Harvard University and Marion Bloch/Missouri Chair in Leadership Emeritus at the Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He advises corporations, public agencies, universities, and schools, and is co-author of several acclaimed leadership books including How Great Leaders Think, The Wizard and the Warrior, and Leading with Soul.
TERRENCE E. DEAL served on the faculties of Stanford, Harvard, Vanderbilt, and the University of Southern California. His primary research interests were in organizations, symbolism, and change. He was the author of 37 books, including the bestseller Corporate Cultures (with A. A. Kennedy, 1982) and Shaping School Culture (with K. Peterson, 3rd ed., 2016). Terry Deal died in June, 2024, just as work began on this 8th edition of Reframing Organizations.
