Resources: Main Page | Research Methods (A) | Major Theories (B) | Issues and Contemporary Topics (C) | Professional Education (D)

Aisle B (Major Theories): Classical Theories (BA) | Org. Behavior – Individual (BB) | Contingency Theories (BC) | Org. Development & Change (BD) | Org. Behavior – Groups & Teams (BG) | Human Relations Theories (BH) | Institution Theories (BI) | Leadership Theories (BL) | Postmodern & Critical Theories (BQ) | Org. Behavior – Systems & Culture (BS) | Prominent Schools (BZ)

In organization studies, there are several major categories of theories that have been developed to explain and guide the study of organizations, management practices, and organizational behavior. These theories range from classical and foundational to more contemporary perspectives. This part of the TAOP Resources Library provides but one way of organizing and presenting these perspectives, and differing views are welcome.

There is always a risk in doing this because of a vital implication of academic freedom: scholars are free to disagree. There is no “one best way” (to draw from Taylorism) to characterize what is known and unknown about organizations. There is no one global master list of topics and knowledge gaps expressing a centralized structure that channels or constrains academics looking to do research. Rather, as professionals, each academic is free to not only research what they wish but also suggest reframing the knowledge that has already been captured in the forms of new theories, new fields, and new methods. Hence, when we built this Resources page, there was no shortage of trepidation about how some sections would be received as our structure may clash with others’ perspectives. But we needed to start somewhere.

The approach was to mine the Academy of Management’s Organization and Management Theory (OMT) keyword list for inspiration, which led to creating this Aisle to cover theories and Aisle C to cover topics. There is natural overlap between the two, but this minimal structure allows for an easy-to-explain division of the resources and their focus. We then grouped the theories according to “a” view of how they divide, mostly by topic rather than over time, by philosophical orientation, or other ways of characterizing them. We do hope you find these resources useful in understanding the vast and dynamic terrain of organization theory, and please help us improve this part of the library!

Racks in this Aisle:

Rack BA — Classic Organization and Management Theory - Curated list of resources regarding the major "classical" theories that initiated the field of organization studies, beginning with Taylorism and scientific management and continuing with the theories Fayol, Weber, and others. Continue Reading

Rack BB1 – Organizational Behavior (Micro-Individual) - Curated list of resources regarding the major theories of organization behavior such as emotions, sensemaking, socialization and organizational climate, and many others. Continue Reading

Rack BB2 — Organizational Behavior (Meso-Groups and Teams) - Curated list of resources regarding theories on groups, teams, and other small collections of individuals within an organizational context, from the worker level to top management teams. Continue Reading

Rack BB3 — Organizational Behavior (Macro-Org/System) - Curated list of resources on open systems theory and its many descendents such as general systems theory, cybernetics, and organizational ecology Continue Reading

Rack BC — Contingency Theory - Curated list of resources regarding the major theories regarding the organizational context and how particular situations influence organizational structures, behaviors, and so on. Includes classic contingency theories and pragmatism. Continue Reading

Rack BD — Organizational Design - Curated list of resources on theories related to organizational structures and design, including control structures, power, and job design Continue Reading

Rack BH – Human Dimension – Culture, Climate, Identity - Curated list of resources regarding sustainability and corporate social responsibility such as sustainable business practices, responses to climate change, sociomateriality, and ethical considerations Continue Reading

Rack BI — Institution Theory - Curated list of resources on theories related to strategic management, including competitive forces models, resource-based perspectives, and organizational strategies and strategic change Continue Reading

Rack BL — Leadership Theories - Curated list of resources on theories related to leadership in organizations including classic trait theory, behavioral theories of leadership, and transactional / transformational leadership Continue Reading

Rack BM – Modern Management Theories - Curated list of resources regarding the major schools of thought and the theoretical perspectives they established. Includes the Carnegie-Mellon School, Aston School, and others. Continue Reading

Rack BQ — Postmodern and Critical Theories - Curated list of resources on postmodernist views of organizations and organizing and contrasting them with the modernist view. Includes critical management studies and complexity theory Continue Reading

Portions of the above text were initially drafted using OpenAI queries including “What are the benefits and challenges of business schools in promoting organization studies?”

Aisle D (Professional Education): Main Page | The Individual Scholar (DA) | Business Schools & Education (DB) I Communities of Practice & Associations (DC) | Knowledge Management (DK) | Outreach & Bridging Theory and Practice (DO)

Resources: Main Page | Research Methods (A) | Major Theories (B) | Issues and Contemporary Topics (C) | Professional Education (D)

Aisle B (Major Theories): Classical Theories (BA) | Org. Behavior – Individual (BB) | Contingency Theories (BC) | Org. Development & Change (BD) | Org. Behavior – Groups & Teams (BG) | Human Relations Theories (BH) | Institution Theories (BI) | Leadership Theories (BL) | Postmodern & Critical Theories (BQ) | Org. Behavior – Systems & Culture (BS) | Prominent Schools (BZ)

Resources: Main Page | Research Methods (A) | Major Theories (B) | Issues and Contemporary Topics (C) | Professional Education (D)