Manager
Organizational structures in multinational corporations from the perspective of global communication networks
Postmodern literature analysis and case study
Lizentiatsarbeit eingereicht der Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Bern Betreuender Professor: Prof. Dr. Norbert Thom Betreuender Assistent: Andreas P. Wenger, lic. rer. pol. Institut für Organisation und Personal Engehaldenstr. 4 CH-3012 Bern
von: Anne-Marie Scheidegger aus Wyssachen (BE) Matr.-Nr.: 91–104–638 Kl. Muristalden 3 CH-3006 Bern
Bern, 20. Mai 1997 (korrigierte Version)
Table of contents
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Table of contents
Table of figures Table of abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 Thesis 1.2 Definitions 1.2.1 Organizational structure 1.2.2 Multinational corporation 1.2.3 Global communication networks 1.3 Related literature 1.4 Methodology and outline 2 Postmodernism 2.1 An overview 2.1.1 Contrasting modernism and postmodernism 2.1.2 Positive and negative evaluations of postmodernism 2.1.3 Foundations of postmodernism 2.2 Postmodernism as an era 2.2.1 Postmodern society 2.2.1.1 Baudrillard 's concept of simulacra 2.2.1.2 Videotexts, cyberspace, etc. 2.2.2 Postmodern corporations 2.2.2.1 Generalization instead of specialization 2.2.2.2 Empowerment instead of bureaucracy 2.2.2.3 Flexible structures instead of rigid hierarchies 2.2.2.4 Constant training 2.2.2.5 Collectivism instead of individualism 2.2.2.6 Leadership based on trust 2.3 Postmodernism as an epistemology 2.3.1 Ontology and epistemology 2.3.1.1 Lyotard and the meta-narrative 2.3.1.2 Derrida and the concept of différance 2.3.1.3 A postmodern communication model 2.3.2 Purpose of postmodern organization theory 2.3.3 Methodology 2.4 Conclusion iii iv 1 1 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 7 7 9 9 11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 21 22 25
Table of contents
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3 Organizational structures 3.1 Terminology 3.1.1 Organization 3.1.2 Organizational structure 3.1.3 Structure versus process 3.2 Market – network –
Postmodern literature analysis and case study
Lizentiatsarbeit eingereicht der Rechts- und Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Bern Betreuender Professor: Prof. Dr. Norbert Thom Betreuender Assistent: Andreas P. Wenger, lic. rer. pol. Institut für Organisation und Personal Engehaldenstr. 4 CH-3012 Bern
von: Anne-Marie Scheidegger aus Wyssachen (BE) Matr.-Nr.: 91–104–638 Kl. Muristalden 3 CH-3006 Bern
Bern, 20. Mai 1997 (korrigierte Version)
Table of contents
i
Table of contents
Table of figures Table of abbreviations 1 Introduction 1.1 Thesis 1.2 Definitions 1.2.1 Organizational structure 1.2.2 Multinational corporation 1.2.3 Global communication networks 1.3 Related literature 1.4 Methodology and outline 2 Postmodernism 2.1 An overview 2.1.1 Contrasting modernism and postmodernism 2.1.2 Positive and negative evaluations of postmodernism 2.1.3 Foundations of postmodernism 2.2 Postmodernism as an era 2.2.1 Postmodern society 2.2.1.1 Baudrillard 's concept of simulacra 2.2.1.2 Videotexts, cyberspace, etc. 2.2.2 Postmodern corporations 2.2.2.1 Generalization instead of specialization 2.2.2.2 Empowerment instead of bureaucracy 2.2.2.3 Flexible structures instead of rigid hierarchies 2.2.2.4 Constant training 2.2.2.5 Collectivism instead of individualism 2.2.2.6 Leadership based on trust 2.3 Postmodernism as an epistemology 2.3.1 Ontology and epistemology 2.3.1.1 Lyotard and the meta-narrative 2.3.1.2 Derrida and the concept of différance 2.3.1.3 A postmodern communication model 2.3.2 Purpose of postmodern organization theory 2.3.3 Methodology 2.4 Conclusion iii iv 1 1 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 7 7 9 9 11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 21 22 25
Table of contents
ii
3 Organizational structures 3.1 Terminology 3.1.1 Organization 3.1.2 Organizational structure 3.1.3 Structure versus process 3.2 Market – network –
References: 71 Gephart, Robert P., Jr./Boje, David M./Thatchenkery, Tojo Joseph (1996) Postmodern management and the coming crises of organizational analysis Reed, Michael (1992) Introduction. In: Rethinking organization: New directions in organization theory and analysis, ed. by Michael Reed and Michael Hughes, London/Newbury Park (CA)/New Delhi 1992, pp. 1–16 Declaration of academic honesty 76 Schertler, Walter (1993) Unternehmensorganisation, 5th ed., München/Wien 1993 Schmidt, Götz (1994) Organisatorische Grundbegriffe, 10th ed., Giessen 1994 Scott Morton, Michael S