Chapter 14 web links
Seminal papers
http://www.ics.uci.edu/corps/phaseii/Mintzberg-StructureIn5s-MgmtSci.pdf
The seminal Mintzberg (1980) paper entitled ‘Structure in 5s: a synthesis of the research on
organization design’ discussed in the ‘taking your learning further’ box 14.3 can be found online at the link below. This article provides many classical elements of organisational design
in an accessible manner as well as discussing adhocracy.
http://www.business.illinois.edu/aguilera/Teaching/Ghoshal%20Noria%20Horses%20for%20
Courses.pdf
The Ghoshal and Noria (1993) paper examining ‘Horses for courses: organisational forms
for multinational corporations’ also discussed in the ‘taking your learning further’ box 14.3
can be found on-line at the link above. This provides a thorough overview of the factors to
consider when designing MNCs as well as indicating how these may be typologised.
www.amielandmelburn.org.uk/collections/mt/pdf/86_04_12.pdf
Although not the classic (1984) article by Atkinson on the flexible firm this article by Atkinson
and Gregory (1986) entitled ‘A flexible future: Britain’s dual labour force’ can be found via
this link. The article considers the ‘core / periphery’ model of organisations popular in the
1980s, which was later adapted by Handy for use in his ‘Shamrock organisation’. The article
also considers the effects of increasingly flexible organisational designs on employees and
the labour market as a whole.
Other web links
http://www.sibis-eu.org
The Statistical Indicators Benchmarking the Information Society (SIBIS) project seeks to
provide data on the extent of the ‘information society’ and technology use across the EU.
This includes data on work and employment as presented in this chapter.
http://www.worksproject.be
The Work Organisations and Restructuring in the Knowledge Society (WORKS) project is
another pan-European project that seeks to map the extent of ‘new’ forms of work and
working in the ‘knowledge society’. The website contains useful reports as well as data from
their research.
http://www.sociosite.net/topics/sociologists.php
This is a useful resource site for looking at the work of ‘famous sociologists’ including those
writing on organisation such as Taylor, Weber, Merton, Marx and Gouldner. Also has a
section dedicated to organisational sociology. No substitute for reading their works of
course!
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=computer+says+no&aq=0
This YouTube search gives a range of clips of Carol Beer the ‘computer says no’ character
from Little Britain discussed in the first ‘theory into practice’ box above (Box 14.2). Although
a caricature and designed to shock it is a perceptive piece of commentary on modern
organisations and work!