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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
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Searching... | 30000010342034 | HD58.8 R364 2014 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
Work organizations can lose their fitness and become sick, just as people can. Just like people, they may become both physically and behaviourally sick; physically sick when plant and equipment breaks down or the money runs out; behaviourally sick when the resources are badly managed or the staff become alienated. Gerry Randell and John Toplis' Towards Organizational Fitness addresses two main issues: firstly, how to investigate and manage problems involving people at work - a task analogous to that of a medical doctor working with a sick patient; secondly, how to assess and develop the capability and fitness of an organization - like a medical doctor who wishes to improve a patient's health. The message of this book is clear, that organizations should not proceed to change any of their policies, procedures, processes or practices until a systematic thorough diagnosis of the root cause underpinning the need to change has taken place. The process of diagnosis that leads to a technically sound, administratively convenient, politically defensible and socially acceptable decision to change an organization in some way is fraught with difficulty. Towards Organizational Fitness provides managers with a conceptual and practical path through this complex and difficult arena.
Author Notes
The late Gerry Randell was Emeritus Professor, University of Bradford. Previously Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bradford School of Management; Lecturer in Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck College, University of London; Research Psychologist for J. Lyons and Industrial Psychologist for LEO Computers. He was the recipient of the British Psychological Society's Professional Practice Board's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Division of Occupational Psychology LTAA. John Toplis first worked at the National Institute of Industrial Psychology where, as Head of Diagnostic Studies, he led numerous surveys and other studies. Subsequent appointments included Head of Psychological Services in the Post Office. He has received the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychology Lifetime Achievement Award, and currently chairs a Branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.