"This is an introductory text for those readers of management and organisational behaviour or related subjects interested in improving organisational performance through the behaviour and actions of people at work. The activities of an organisation are directed towards the attainment of certain goals and also have social implications. Organisational behaviour is a wide and essentially multidisciplinary field of inquiry and should not be considered in a vacuum but related to the broader organisational context and external environment. The concepts and ideas presented in this book provide a basis for contrasting perspectives on the structure, operation and management of organisations, and interactions among people who work in them. A multiplicity of interrelated factors influence the decisions and actions of people at work, and scope for the examination of organisational behaviour is therefore very wide. While the responsibilities and actions of managers may be subject to debate; in today's increasingly dynamic, global and competitive environment, understanding human behaviour at work and management of the people resource is essential for organisational survival and success. There is a close relationship between organisational behaviour and management theory and practice. A central theme of the book is the nature of the people-organisation relationship"-- Provided by publisher.