An understanding of the nature and forms of organisation, particularly with reference to industrial societies, is a key area in sociological analysis. This book discusses and explains what concepts to employ and what analytical procedures to adopt as well as conveying a sense of the theoretical and empirical diversity involved in the study of organisations.

Among the questions explored are:

• why do we classify organisations in particular ways and for what purpose?

• how can on explore the relationships pertaining to an organisation and its environment?

• what issues are raised by the existence of many varied and often competing organisations in industrial societies?