First published in 1961, this book is a very influential book on organization theory and industrial sociology. The central theme of the book is the relationship between an organization and its environment — particularly technological and market innovations. Based on first-class scholarship, the book presents the now famous and ubiquitous classifications of ‘mechanistic’ and ‘organic’ systems. For this it has become justly famous, but the book is also a penetrating study of social systems within organizations and organizational dynamics.

No abstract

Widely recognised as the standard text for trainee psychiatrists, the Shorter Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry stands head and shoulders above the competition. Honed over five editions it displays a rare fluency, authority and insight, and it makes the process of assimilating information as smooth and enjoyable as possible. The resource provides an introduction to all the clinical topics required by the trainee psychiatrist, including all the sub-specialties and major psychiatric conditions. Throughout, the authors emphasize the basic clinical skills required for the full assessment and understanding of the patient. Discussion of treatment includes not only scientific evidence, but also practical problems in the management of patients their family and social context. It emphasizes an evidence-based approach to practice and gives full attention to ethical and legal issues. Introductory chapters focus on recognition of signs and symptoms, classification and diagnosis, psychiatric assessment, and aetiology. Further chapters deal with all the major psychiatric syndromes as well as providing detailed coverage of pharmacological and psychological treatments. It also gives equal prominence to ICD and DSM classification - often with direct comparisons.

Agency has long been an important topic in sociological theory. Recently, sociologists have devoted attention to new models of cultural evolution drawn from a variety of disciplines. This paper examines the role of agency in evolutionary theory. We begin by distinguishing evolutionary theory from developmental theories that are usually identified with evolution in discussions of social theory. We then offer an approach to agency and to power grounded in social rule systems theory. These discussions provide a context to definition of agency as effective, intentional, unconstrained and reflexive action by individual or collective actors. Using contemporary evolutionary theory, we consider the circumstances under which individual and collective action can meet these requirements and thus be considered agentic.

No abstract

This chapter reviews the more general considerations which support the view that effective organization of industrial resources, even when considered in its rational aspects alone, does not approximate to one ideal type of management system, but alters in important respects in conformity with changes in extrinsic factors. These extrinsic factors are all identifiable as different rates of technical or market change. By ‘change’ is meant the appearance of novelties such as new scientific discoveries or technical inventions, and requirements for products of a kind not previously available or demanded.

PurposeThis paper sets out to report on a study of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as an instance of “partnered governance” oriented to advance sustainable development in a supply chain. After briefly discussing the conceptualization of partnered governance, its social organizational features, and its drivers, the paper aims to outline the history and structure of RSPO and then to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and level of legitimation of this innovative governance structure. The paper points out several of the limitations as well as potentialities of partner governance arrangements such as that of RSPO.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows through a focused multi‐method case study how the RSPO developed as consumer‐oriented businesses partnered with civil society organizations and palm oil producers to address what was seen as a long‐term threat to rain forests, on the one hand, and to financial interests, on the other.FindingsIn the case of deforestation caused by oil palm expansion, national government intervention was absent and international regulation could not be mobilized. While the RSPO's system of partnered governance may have many shortcomings, the paper stresses that there are few real alternatives that have been as successful in addressing this type of sustainability issue. A major structural problem with such partnerships for sustainability is that their emergence and development typically depend on powerful players.Originality/valueThe originality/value of the paper lies in its identification of several of the strengths and weaknesses of partnered governance based on a focused case study, and suggests ways in which partnered governance can be developed and optimized in addressing sustainability issues.

In this paper we outline a general evolutionary theory, which we suggest can provide a useful point of departure for the description and analysis of cultural and institutional dynamics. The paper defines culture and institutions as systems of social rules, produced and reproduced by human groups, and formulates the evolutionary dynamics of such rule systems. In the context of the resurgence of evolutionary thinking in the social sciences in the last decade, we distinguish between contemporary evolutionary approaches and earlier developmental approaches. By evolutionary we mean models of the generation of variety, transmission of information and the operation of selection and other processes (migration, distorted or incorrect knowledge transmission etc.) on the distribution of information within and between populations over time. The key units of information consists of social rules, the production, reproduction and transformation of which is the focus of the theory. In this scheme macro or population-level phenomena and structures are shaped by micro-level processes and in turn are the selective environment for the micro-level processes. Historical developments are seen as the result of complex contingencies rather than representing a tendency for key variables to move towards a static or dynamic Aristotelean `natural state'. In historical developments, human agents play a major role but often not in the ways they intend or anticipate.