Organizational Systematics: Taxonomy, Evolution, Classification

Organizational Systematics: Taxonomy, Evolution, Classification delves into the complex and underexplored domain of organizational differences, offering a groundbreaking framework for understanding, classifying, and theorizing about the diverse forms of organizational populations. The author positions organizational systematics as an essential yet overlooked discipline, drawing compelling parallels with biological taxonomy to build a systematic approach for organizational science. The book emphasizes the critical role of systematics in establishing a structured foundation for empirical and theoretical advancements, likening its importance to that of classification systems in biology, which have historically underpinned progress in the natural sciences.

The text serves as both a theoretical treatise and a practical guide for researchers interested in the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of organizations. Through a synthesis of insights from biology and organizational studies, the book introduces concepts such as the organizational "species," evolutionary branching, and population ecology. It calls for a paradigm shift in organizational science, advocating for a population perspective rooted in natural selection theory. By integrating evolutionary theory with empirical classification methods, the book aims to inspire debate and foster new research methodologies that can address the challenges of diversity and variation in organizational forms. This innovative work is a must-read for scholars and practitioners seeking to advance the study of organizations as dynamic, adaptive systems within complex environments.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1982.