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Organization

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Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science

INTRODUCTION

Organization studies encompass two areas: organization theory as a positive science to explain and understand the structure, behavior and effectiveness of an organization; and organizational design as a normative science to recommend better designs for increased effectiveness and efficiency. Organization theory attempts to understand and explain; organizational design creates and constructs an organization.

Organizing behavior is evident in history from the earliest of recorded time. Ancient China was a highly organized society, a meritocracy with labor specialization. The Roman Empire, and in particular the Roman army, was efficiently designed. The modern organization is part and parcel to our civilization and its understanding fundamental to modern life. Not only is organization both timely and timeless, its study is basic in management science, political science, economics, sociology, business, and military science, to name a few. Organization study is...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Richard M. Burton

  2. Odense University, Odense, Denmark

    Børge Obel

Authors
  1. Richard M. Burton
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  2. Børge Obel
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Part, Maryland, USA

    Saul I. Gass

  2. School of Information Technology & Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA

    Carl M. Harris

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© 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Burton, R.M., Obel, B. (2001). Organization . In: Gass, S.I., Harris, C.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0611-X_712

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0611-X_712

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-7827-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-0611-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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