Organizations in Context

Stewart Clegg is Professor in the School of Project Management and the John Grill Institute of Project Leadership at the University of Sydney, Australia, Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney Business School, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Technology Sydney.Torgeir Skyttermoen is Professor of Organization and Leadership at Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway, with over 25 years’ experience teaching in the field. He received the Norwegian Ministry of Education’s National Quality Award for Teaching.

“This text makes a significant contribution to the field by bridging foundational organisational theory with contemporary practice in a way that is both accessible and intellectually robust. What stands out most is the authors’ ability to skilfully navigate complex organisational concepts while grounding them in real-world contexts. This balance ensures that the book is not only theoretically rigorous but also highly relevant for teaching and learning. It invites readers to engage critically with organisational life, while providing practical insights that resonate across diverse institutional and cultural settings. I highly recommend this book as a core resource for business scholars and as an effective teaching tool for students. It offers a comprehensive and engaging framework that will support the development of critical thinking, analytical capability, and applied understanding of organisations in today’s dynamic environment.”Maiono Jekope Ramala, University of Otago, New Zealand“Organizations in Context is a beautifully written breath of fresh air. It is a much-needed celebration of the substantial amount we know about organisations. It encourages us to be positive and creative in how we use this knowledge. Stewart and Torgeir have provided us with an essential and stimulating handbook for those studying and living in modern organizations.” Richard Badham, Professor and Adjunct Fellow, University of Technology Sydney, Australia“This timely and exciting text is the perfect travel guide to understanding the exciting world of organizations. It provides a comprehensive overview, fusing deep historical context with contemporary insights. Readers will learn something fresh on every page. I strongly recommend this engaging and accessible book.”Chris Carter, Professor, University of Edinburgh Business School, UK

• 1. Why Organizational Understanding? 2. Organizations: What – How – Why 3. What Are Organizations For? Purpose, Goals, Strategy 4. Organizational Structures and Formal Organization 5. People in Organizations: Understanding Organizational Behaviour 6. Organizational Culture and Identity – The Depth of People's Common Understanding 7. Power, Decisions and Conflicts in Organizations 8. Interaction: Communication, Teams and the Structures of Working Life 9. Leadership in Context 10. Transition: Learning, Innovation and Organizational Change 11. Organizations in Interaction with Stakeholders and the Environment 12. From Organizational Understanding to Critical Insights – Organizations on the Move 13. From Design to Action – Organizations in Action