External Control of the Organization: Analysis of Dependence on Organizational Resources

Author: Jeffrey Pfeffer
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-18
Features: This book has three central themes, each representing the corresponding changes in the development direction of the organization research field at the time of its publication. By studying these three themes, as well as the empirical research and the subsequent theoretical developments, we can assess the book's influence, observe the evolution of its perspectives, and explore its current position in this field. One, and also the core theme, discusses the important role of the social environment of the environment or organization in the process of determining decision-making regarding relevant issues. This perspective helps us understand issues such as employee recruitment, the composition of board members, and the pursuit of alliances and mergers. The general premise of this view can be seen in both my collaborative and individual research with Sarahanik. The importance of understanding the organizational environment lies in its natural extension of the open systems theory perspective and its alignment with current theories. This view holds that to truly understand organizational choices and actions, more attention should be paid to the position of the organization and the pressures and constraints at that position, rather than focusing on internal dynamics and the values and beliefs of leadership. The second major theme argues that although organizations are clearly constrained by their context and environment, there is still room for them to do their own thing, such as forming alliances with organizations that have insufficient resources to gain more temporary autonomy and thus more power that aligns with the organization's interests. The third major theme discusses the importance of developing the ability to understand internal and interorganizational behavior. As a concept, the importance of social forces stems from the natural result of attention to dependence and interdependence, as well as the constraints arising from dependence and efforts to mitigate these constraints.