Introduction
Publication Information: John Wiley and Sons Ltd publication, 2009, pages 683
Genre: The handbook is written in a prose form, hence providing a required link on principles used in describing various organizational behaviors. The handbook is organized in eight successive chapters with sub-topics linked to the main topic but different authors.
A brief introduction to the book
The book identifies various principles which can be applied in excellent management of people, work, and organizations. Such principles as portrayed in the book are considered essential within the control of education as well as developing effective workplace practices. At the same time, the book acts as the bridge between various opinions on scientific knowledge used in describing organizational behavior and applicable in the daily management of organizations. This article focuses on providing the explicit review on the book mentioned for the purposes of confirming foundations from which it was written and published.
The source of the book
The handbook is the second edition of the previously published book under the title ‘The Blackwell handbook of principles of organizational behavior’ by Blackwell business publishers in the year 2000. The handbook includes various interesting changes from the first edition. There are four additional chapters, new authors as well as preface with all chapters updated based on the latest research with each chapter tailored in terms of a single principle.
Body: Explanation of what the book is about
The handbook focuses on management principles utilized within organizations. It can be utilized in teaching and practical applications of various principles of management. The handbook provides possible management principles applicable in fields such as psychology, human resource and controlling organizational behavior. The book explains the importance of intelligence in the process of executing duties, which is also explained alongside motivational level. At the same time, training is considered as one of the powerful tools used by employers to structure and guide various principles applied in acquiring affective, behavioral and cognitive learning outcomes from employees. Learning outcomes are considered vital in impacting key organizational outcomes.
The handbook reveals various experiences of teamwork within organizations and expresses it as the determining factor on the extent to which progress is measured within a defined period of time. Individual contribution within a team reinforces the level of focus on common organizational goals. It also encourages the building of an effective communication network essential for the development of good relations within the organization.
Personal opinion about the book and how successful it is
In my opinion, this handbook portrays organizational success as that which is fully based on the application of appropriate skills, principles and robust leadership. Emotional intelligence presents one of the core features required in ensuring effective leadership and management of the working environment. The book is successful in revealing the fact that workplace virtues mutually depend on principles of integrity of character and at the same time, revolves around organizational culture, morality, Intrinsic motivation, and altruistic values.
Analysis and evaluation
The handbook provides systematic knowledge which can be used for professional decisions in organizations as well as regulating human behavior. The author achieved the general purpose for which the book was written since it helps in identifying general principles approved through scientific research and used in the effective management of people, work as well as organizations. The use of multiple authors in this edition provided a wealth of knowledge on various topics as indicated.
This is since each chapter focused on at least one principle of management researched from diverse professional perspectives. Such elaborate knowledge assists in narrowing research-practice gap hence providing much-required opportunities to both practitioners and educators in the process of enhancing individual professional practices. Scientific aspect as used in the book provides substantiated trends and beliefs profitable for organizations and individuals. At the same time, the handbook provides a foundation from which reliable decisions are made for the purposes of building organization trust between employees and managers.
The book is organized in clear and simple English easy to understand. The author has used immense data from various scientific researches producing an integrated knowledge base for each chapter. The use of many experts in each chapter has enabled the clear articulation of important facts and useful knowledge concerning organizational behavior. Each topic is clearly referenced with the author being mentioned and acknowledged. At the end of the handbook is the index page which provides directions towards easy access to terms used within the book since page numbers are indicated. This handbook benefits different scholars and researchers in the aspect of further understanding the concept of employees’ roles in enhancing competitive advantage within public and private sectors.
Strengths and weaknesses of the book
The strength lies in the fact that information within the book is clearly referenced, both in-text and end-text citations are provided. This is an indication of professional writing since no sense of plagiarism can be detected. Despite conclusion being provided after every topic, there is no general conclusion and hence concrete summary on the whole book. At the same time, one of the weaknesses is revealed on the fact that end-text citations are given after every topic instead of being provided at the end of the entire book. Exercises are provided, which presents the reader with the opportunity of exercising their level of understanding of the book. However, for such a book to look organized, exercises should be provided before the reference page. Generally, the handbook provides necessary knowledge in the field of organizational behavior hence recommendable since it provides evidence-based organizational as well as management practices.
Conclusion
The book creates some level of importance on the development of emotional intelligence, which forms the basis for effective management and relations within organizations. Level of responsiveness exhibited by employees and managers is usually a function on the percentage of their emotional and spiritual intelligence. The handbook elevates the fact that organizational culture is an important aspect since it influences, to a larger extent, employee behaviors and responses towards work.
The impression from the book touches on the fact that current organizations require astute kind of leadership. This is for the purposes of understanding various domains capable of delivering organizational excellence. Every topic within the book tends to explain the true meaning of work and leadership which is described beyond scientific and technical aspects. The most important dimension provided within the literature involves the engagement of employee hearts and minds as a means of providing required solutions within organizations.
Responsibility and authority can be delegated by management to employees, granting them the right to act on behalf of senior managers. However, understanding various factors that affect normal operations and performances of employees from the perspective of the book can be utilized by other researchers for the purposes of developing appropriate strategies and techniques capable of addressing various challenges within communication lines at the workplace.