The Blackwell Handbook of Principles of Organizational Behavior (Blackwell Handbooks in Management)

Rating:
Summary: The Art of Management Presented as a Science
Review: "The Blackwell Handbook of Organizational Behavior" is a collection of articles by academics edited and ogranized by Dr. Edwin Locke, who is both a leading expert in the field of motivation and organizational behavior.

The book presents the principles of management not as a set of memorized lists but as general truths about management induced from reality. With the wealth of examples, the book provides *practical* guidance on how to make a business decision. Take for example the three basic principles underlying the section of workers:

(1) Select on Intelligence
(2) Select on Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability
(3) Structure Interviews to Hire the Best People

In each principle, the authors provide the background/research on how they induced this principle, they provide sub-principles by breaking down the principle further (when necessary), including exceptions (thus delimiting the context), and then they present clarifying and practical advice on implementing the principles in practice, along with real world examples of how the principles are successfully used.

Bear in mind that the book is not exactly easy reading as it is written by academics; however, neither is it entirely academic either, making it readable. I think the principle involved in writing the book is to be 'academic' in terms of accuracy, but not so as to confuse the reader through Ivory tower jargon.

This is the book that Hank Rearden--a fictional character in Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged--had on his desk; if you are a manager you should have it on yours...

Rating:
Summary: Putting the "I" back in "Team"
Review: While most OB texts today promote the collectivist social agendas of authors who've never been gainfully employed outside of academia, "The Blackwell Handbook of Organizational Behavior" is a refreshing and potentially powerful tool for managers and management students who want to study and implement sound business practices based on proven principals. Kudos to Edwin Locke, et. al. for, what should be, a constant reference tool for every manager who wants to reach optimum organizational performance while promoting respect for individual employees. Unfortunately, since this book avoids all the fluffy science, social engineering, and racist collectivist theories being pumped by the general OB industry, it will likely be dismissed or condemned by today's trendy OB psycho-social engineers. Then again, that makes it better for those of us who want to get ahead using sound business practices that respect and advance each individual within the organization. - Brent Duncan, Practitioner Professor, UOP.