This engaging and timely book demonstrates how a deeper understanding of theories about organizations are necessary for the development of a relational sociology and provides an in-depth explanation of globalization and social change. It also examines how social bonds are constructed through combinations of different forms of communication and investigates the bonds of intimate relationships and partially organized relationships such as street gangs, brotherhoods, and social movements. Goeran Ahrne addresses the five key organizational elements: membership, rules, monitoring, sanctions, and hierarchy and illustrates this detailed analysis with examples of organizations ranging from rock groups and mafias, to global organizations such as Google, and meta-organizations such as FIFA. Drawing on extensive research with co-authors, Ahrne reviews how both old and new relationships expand, change and remain together amongst globalization and social change. This insightful book will be an invaluable resource for researchers and students in organizational studies as well as those studying sociology. It will also provide useful guidance for sociologists and theorists interested in social and organization theories.

This engaging and timely book demonstrates how a deeper understanding of theories about organizations are necessary for the development of a relational sociology and provides an in-depth explanation of globalization and social change. It also examines how social bonds are constructed through combinations of different forms of communication and investigates the bonds of intimate relationships and partially organized relationships such as street gangs, brotherhoods, and social movements. Goeran Ahrne addresses the five key organizational elements: membership, rules, monitoring, sanctions, and hierarchy and illustrates this detailed analysis with examples of organizations ranging from rock groups and mafias, to global organizations such as Google, and meta-organizations such as FIFA. Drawing on extensive research with co-authors, Ahrne reviews how both old and new relationships expand, change and remain together amongst globalization and social change. This insightful book will be an invaluable resource for researchers and students in organizational studies as well as those studying sociology. It will also provide useful guidance for sociologists and theorists interested in social and organization theories.

A growing number of organizations are meta-organizations; rather than individuals they have other organizations as their members. This comprehensive book explains, in-depth, the unique way in which meta-organizations function, how they differ from organizations with individual membership, and how they are crucial agents in the process of globalization. The book opens a whole new area for organizational research. It will be essential reading for researchers and postgraduate students interested in organization theory, globalization, politics and organizations, or international organizations.

The book explores how various social settings are partially organized even when they do not form part of a formal organization. It also shows how even formal organizations may be only partially organized. Professors Goeran Ahrne and Nils Brunsson first established the concept of partial organization in 2011 and in doing so opened up a ground-breaking new field of organizational analysis. An academic community has since developed around the concept, and Ahrne and Brunsson have edited this collection to reflect the current state of inquiry in this burgeoning subject and to set an agenda for future research. Its chapters explain how organization is a salient feature in many social settings, including markets, interfirm networks, social movements, criminal gangs, internet communication and family life. Organization theory is much more relevant for the understanding of social processes than previously assumed. This book provides a new understanding of many social phenomena and opens up new fields for organizational analysis.

The book explores how various social settings are partially organized even when they do not form part of a formal organization. It also shows how even formal organizations may be only partially organized. Professors Goeran Ahrne and Nils Brunsson first established the concept of partial organization in 2011 and in doing so opened up a ground-breaking new field of organizational analysis. An academic community has since developed around the concept, and Ahrne and Brunsson have edited this collection to reflect the current state of inquiry in this burgeoning subject and to set an agenda for future research. Its chapters explain how organization is a salient feature in many social settings, including markets, interfirm networks, social movements, criminal gangs, internet communication and family life. Organization theory is much more relevant for the understanding of social processes than previously assumed. This book provides a new understanding of many social phenomena and opens up new fields for organizational analysis.