Images of Organization

This was required reading for my undergraduate BSBA. I have read it 4 or 5 times since then. It does not read like a novel. Expect to read not more than 250 to 300 words per minute for comprehension. Even at that you'll still miss stuff. I read about a chapter a month just because you awareness of the environment increases with each read. Pros: Complete coverage of organizational structure. Well written. Theories. Multiple points of view. References actual research. Metaphors for clarity and comparison. Increased awareness of everything around you (Really? Yeah, really!). You will understand why people do what they do in a business environment... (okay, ill tell you. it's in their own self interest! ALWAYS!) Cons: None (sort of) Review: Morgan provides a comprehensive conversation about nearly every aspect of an organization from the outside looking in. Much of the focus is on the management role. Also, each chapter has a metaphor for the main topic of the chapter. So if you don't have much work experience the metaphor provides clarity and alternative points of view. Google chapter summaries and you wont even get 1% of the information. No sentence is wasted in this book.

Morgan's Images of Organization is a well written book. I purchased this book for a class in Adult Education, and it is remarkably interesting. The book is organized around eleven chapters and a postscript. The most interesting parts of the book are Chapters 2 through 7. CH 2: Organizations as Machines CH 3: Organizations as Organisms CH 4: Organizations as Brains CH 5: Organizations as Cultures CH 6: Organizations as Political Systems CH 7: Organizations as Psychic Prisons These chapters represent the majority of the material relevant to organizational theory. Anyone who wants to learn more about organizational design should read this book

This was a great book and nice to read. It flowed well and really explained things.... Great historical perspective also.

I loved reading this book. As a life-long student of organizational dynamics, I found Morgan's use of various metaphors to describe organizational theory to be both fascinating and an outstanding teaching tool. The book is a great teacher of the basic theoretical models and draws from the work of key thinkers in describing each model. As a stand-alone text it is very good, but I also envision using Morgan's metaphorical approach to enable organizations to become self-aware of their own patterns and how they impact overall effectiveness.

I was required to purchase this book for an organizational behavior course I took. It's a lot to read, but it's fairly interesting to read about how organizations have evolved overtime. Reading or 'skimming' through the book helped me to understand the organization I work for.

This book is a classic. The ideas in it will stimulate you intellectually. Use these ideas in your academic papers, your research, and at work. Some of the ideas are groundbreaking. Read the book, then reread it. The book should be required reading for every organizational manager and leader.

Gareth Morgan has created a resource for global managers! The images of organization educate the reader on the eight metaphors, that, are designed to teach valuable insight on the different behaviors encountered in the workplace. This book is a well written artifact. Too bad there isn't a certifiable study guide that compacts the information for busy scholars!

The book is an amazing one because it has enlightened me on how to run my organization with great success. Morgan is a great writer and I have liked is knowledge that he has offered to the readers and managers of organizations.

great book

Excellent packaging for the excellent book

As leadership expert & psychologist I deeply appreciate the multitude of evidence based insights offered in this book about organisations. The book strikes a beautiful balance between sensemaking, understanding and theory, evidence & science. A book that goes beyond recipees and simplicities and that at the same time offers pragmatic insights and frameworks. As Kurt Lewin once said, there is nothing so practical as a good theory. In this (rare) case, I agree.

Images of Organization belongs to the basic books when it comes to Organizational Theory. Morgan has included all important theories and describes theories in various ways, so that everyone can understand.

Read this as part of my MBA. It is one of the most groundbreaking and interesting books I have read, providing insight that taps into your imagination.