Understanding Business – serie

Organisational theory is vitally relevant to today's student of business. Understanding Business Organisations introduces the student to classic debates and new perspectives on organisations through a wide ranging but approachable selection of readings.This text:* considers why organisations matter to employees and customers * discusses theories of the organisation as a mode of empowerment and of control.Examining these theories in the light of current programmes of organisational change gives the book a case study element that will be invaluable for teaching and learning.

Despite sweeping changes in organisational theory and practice, most productive activity still takes place within organisations. This volume makes it clear that despite waves of change, organisational theory remains vially relevant to todays student of business. This book introduces the student to classic debates and new perspectives on organisations through a wide ranging but approachable selection of readings. It:considers why organisations matter to employees and customersdiscusses theories of the organisation as a mode of empowerment and of controlExamining these theories in the light of current programmes of organisational change, gives the book a case study element that will be invaluable for teaching and learning

What are the forces shaping today's business world? Understanding Business Environments provides key readings which introduce the student to the factors underlying the business environment. Including chapters by gurus such as Anthony Giddens, Stuart Hall and Will Hutton, the book covers:* social forces including the social structure and long-term social change* technological factors including Information Technology and new production technologies* economic factors including the impact of macroeconomic policy and of the financial system* political factors including the legal environment and government-business relations.

What are the forces shaping today's business world? Understanding Business Environments provides key readings which introduce the student to the factors underlying the business environment. Including chapters by gurus such as Anthony Giddens, Stuart Hall and Will Hutton, the book covers:* social forces including the social structure and long-term social change* technological factors including Information Technology and new production technologies* economic factors including the impact of macroeconomic policy and of the financial system* political factors including the legal environment and government-business relations.

What do business organisations do?The results of business behaviour can be seen and experienced in the form of the goods that are produced. However, what goes on within organisations is often hidden from the outside world. Taking a systems and process perspective, this book demonstrates that any business is a number of interrelated processes whose success is determined by the extent to which these activities add value whilst minimising cost. The book focuses on:* activities through which the organisation interacts with its customers, including marketing and sales* how organisations process materials including purchasing and manufacturing* forms of business organisation, with a critical account of new paradigms including Business Process Re-engineering.The book features articles by leading business gurus including Michael Porter, Philip Kotler and John Kay.

What do business organisations do?The results of business behaviour can be seen and experienced in the form of the goods that are produced. However, what goes on within organisations is often hidden from the outside world. Taking a systems and process perspective, this book demonstrates that any business is a number of interrelated processes whose success is determined by the extent to which these activities add value whilst minimising cost. The book focuses on:* activities through which the organisation interacts with its customers, including marketing and sales* how organisations process materials including purchasing and manufacturing* forms of business organisation, with a critical account of new paradigms including Business Process Re-engineering.The book features articles by leading business gurus including Michael Porter, Philip Kotler and John Kay.

How do markets work? Are there different types of market? Markets are central to business enterprise and to a wide range of social activities. Following the collapse of communism, the market economy was proclaimed as the only way forward, the major agent behind the end of history. This collection of readings introduces the student to the workings of the market, explaining both the reasons for its success and its shortcomings. Throughout, the text encourages a critical approach by showing that there is more than one way of studying the market and by demonstrating the diversity of market economies. In particular the book explores: the social nature of market economies, arguing that the market is a socially constructed institution; the range of approaches to the study of the market: Marxist, Austrian, Keynesian and institutional economics are discussed as alternatives to the neo-classical mainstream; the diversity of market economies with an emphasis on the differences between Anglo-American, European and Asian economic models; the historical development of markets and the continuing impact this has; the extent and impact of globalisation and the costs and benefits of markets. With chapters by Will Hutton, John Gray and Eric Hobsbawn, this Reader provides an excellent introduction for undergraduate and postgraduate students of business (including MBA students) and for students of economics. This book is one of a series of four Readers for the Open University course Understanding Business Behaviour (B200), an introductory course in the BA in Business Studies programme.

Despite sweeping changes in organisational theory and practice, most productive activity still takes place within organisations. This volume makes it clear that despite waves of change, organisational theory remains vially relevant to todays student of business. This book introduces the student to classic debates and new perspectives on organisations through a wide ranging but approachable selection of readings. It:considers why organisations matter to employees and customersdiscusses theories of the organisation as a mode of empowerment and of controlExamining these theories in the light of current programmes of organisational change, gives the book a case study element that will be invaluable for teaching and learning

How do markets work? Are there different types of market? Markets are central to business enterprise and to a wide range of social activities. Following the collapse of communism, the market economy was proclaimed as the only way forward, the major agent behind the end of history. This collection of readings introduces the student to the workings of the market, explaining both the reasons for its success and its shortcomings. Throughout, the text encourages a critical approach by showing that there is more than one way of studying the market and by demonstrating the diversity of market economies. In particular the book explores: the social nature of market economies, arguing that the market is a socially constructed institution; the range of approaches to the study of the market: Marxist, Austrian, Keynesian and institutional economics are discussed as alternatives to the neo-classical mainstream; the diversity of market economies with an emphasis on the differences between Anglo-American, European and Asian economic models; the historical development of markets and the continuing impact this has; the extent and impact of globalisation and the costs and benefits of markets. With chapters by Will Hutton, John Gray and Eric Hobsbawn, this Reader provides an excellent introduction for undergraduate and postgraduate students of business (including MBA students) and for students of economics. This book is one of a series of four Readers for the Open University course Understanding Business Behaviour (B200), an introductory course in the BA in Business Studies programme.