Putman, A.O. / Published 1990 / Article
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Citation: Putman, A.O. (1990). Organizations. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5 (pp. 11-46). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.
Abstract: Organizations are among the most important and complex phenomena of the twentieth century. This paper takes a fresh look at organizations both conceptually and pragmatically, using the perspective and conceptual resources of Descriptive Psychology. A detailed paradigm is developed which is rooted in the view of organizations as a particular type of human community. Within this paradigm a number of issues are discussed, ranging from ethical concerns of power and authority to means of distinguishing different worlds within the organization. In a second section of the paper a number of pragmatic concerns of organizations are addressed, including methods for improving productivity, increasing job satisfaction and on-the-job growth, and effectively managing the organization's mission.