Organizational Misbehaviour

'[A] textbook specifically aimed at organizational misbehaviour. ...it certainly fills a gap... containing a large survey of academic literature on the subject. The book is good: it brings to light subjects which are too often negleced, and it provides an understanding of phenomena which are so common in organizations, but at the same time so vague and incomprehensible' Organization Studies From `soldiering' and absenteeism to humour in organizations and the emergence politics of sexuality, this book explores the latest forms of organizational subversion and offers fresh insights of the underlying dynamics of management and organizational processes. The book opens with a critique of orthodox organizational analysis and maps out the wide terrain across which organizational `misbehaviour' occurs. The authors go on to examine the interconnections between identity formation, the pursuit of autonomy and organizational misbehaviour, and explore how clearly the tendency to misbehave is deeply embedded in organizational life.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Why Organizational Misbehaviour? The Recalcitrant Worker Irresponsible Autonomy Self Organization as the Infra-Structure of Misbehaviour Management and Misbehaviour Only Joking? From Subculture to Counter-Culture in Organizational Relations Ruling Passions Sexual Misconduct at Work The End of Organizational Misbehaviour?

About the Author :
STEPHEN ACKROYD is Professor of Organizational Analysis in Lancaster UniversityManagement School where he is Head of the Department of Organization, Work and Technology. He has conducted various research projects in the NHS over the last twenty years (both alone and with doctoral students). Most of this research in the NHS has shared a focus on the organisation of professional groups within hospitals. This is only one of his research interests, however, and his recent books include: Organizational Misbehaviour (with P. Thompson), Realist Perspectives on Management and Organizations (edited with Steve Fleetwood), The Organization of Business and New Managerialism and Public Service Professions (edited with Ian Kirkpatrick and Richard Walker).

Review :
'There are many positive contributions made by this book, including the shifting of misbehaviour from the margins of organizational behaviour to a more prominent position. Moreover it brings together a range of studies from across the social science disciplines to illustrate and examine organizational misbehaviour... The book is well written, and the reader is taken through the authors arguments in a clear well illustrated and enjoyable manner. The Research base for the text, a combination of published studies as well as the authors' own observations and studies is considerable and eclectic... This book will be of interest to researchers, students and managers' - Asia Pacific Review