Niklas Luhmann and organization studies / edited by David Seidl and Kai Helge Becker.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Seidl, David, editor.

Becker, Kai Helge, editor.

Series:

Advances in organization studies.

Advances in Organization Studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Luhmann, Niklas, 1927-1998.

Luhmann, Niklas.

Social systems.

Social groups.

Complex organizations.

Organizational sociology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (465 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Frederiksberg, Denmark : Copenhagen Business School Press, 2006.

Summary:

"This volume intends to provide access to the concepts of Luhmann's theory, to present an overview of those parts of his work relevant for organizational studies, and to stimulate further research by providing new applications of his theory to questions for organization and management."

Contents:

Niklas Luhmann and Organization Studies; Copyright; Table of Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction: Luhmann's Organization Theory; Some important aspects of Luhmann's theory; The reception of Luhmann's work on an international level; The structure of Luhmann's oeuvre; The contents of this book; PART I: The Theory of Autopoietic Social Systems; Chapter 1: The Basic Concepts of Luhmann's Theory of Social Systems; The concept of autopoiesis; a. The original biological concept of autopoiesis; b. Luhmann's general, transdisciplinary concept of autopoiesis; Social systems

a. Communications as the elements of social systemsb. Interpenetration: the relation between social and psychic systems; c. Communication and action; Society and interaction; a. Society; b. Interaction; Organization; a. Decisions as the elements of organizations; b. Uncertainty absorption; c. Decision premises; d. The double closure of the organization; e. The paradox of decision at the heart of Luhmann's organization theory; Luhmann's theory of social systems as a theory of distinction; a. Observation as basic concept; b. Autopoietic systems as distinction processing systems; Conclusion

Chapter 2:The Concept of AutopoiesisAcknowledgements; Chapter 3:The Autopoiesis of Social Systems; Meaning and life as different modes of autopoietic organization; Communications as the basic elements of social systems; Societies and interactions as different types of social systems; The relation between action and communication; Maintenance of social systems by self-referential production of elements; The contribution of the general theory of autopoietic systems; The epistemological consequences of autopoietic closure; Acknowledgements; PART II: Organization, Decision and Paradox

Chapter 4: The Paradox of Decision MakingWhat are "decisions"?; On the function of paradoxes; Unfolding the paradox; Decision premises; Uncertainty absorption; Rationality and motivation; Perception and communication; From principle to paradox; Acknowledgements; Chapter 5: Displacing the Paradox of Decision Making; Key concepts; A self-referential organization emerges; Deparadoxization and uncertainty (1); Increasing areas for decision making, increasing uncertainty; Complexity; The simultaneous existence of opposite decision premises; Changing decisions; Summing up; Displacements

Deparadoxization by reasonsDeparadoxization by hearings; Deparadoxization by changing decision-proposals; Deparadoxization and uncertainty (2); Why displacements?; Reforms and self-reference; Conclusion; Chapter 6: On Gorgon Sisters: Organizational Action in the Face of Parad; Protecting paradoxes; Organizing as deparadoxization; When deparadoxization does not work, or the tragedy of action; Slaying the Medusa, or the manager-hero; Observers of institutions: Paradoxes and organization theory; PART III: Organization, Interaction and Society; Chapter 7: Organization and Interaction

Introduction

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed January 5, 2016).

ISBN:

87-630-0304-X

OCLC:

932340294