Deciphering the Human Mysteries of Organizational Life

The idea that "statistics are enough" is prevalent within stable organizations; however, this framework is not enough to understand organizational change. Data-especially less visible data-is necessary. This book explores the intersecting social systems of organizations and looks at organizational challenges in a new light. Each chapter is written by a different author and provides thoughts useful in context; rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, the authors construct pathways for exploration and experimentation, starting with the "why" behind organizational challenges before moving on toward "how:" practical ways to change. Business leaders and followers will benefit from this text, learning to uncover and frame the dynamics that influence change and crisis on all levels-individual, group, and organizational. Businesspeople can and should look into the less visible parts of organizational life; this can change the world of work. Chapter 1 begins with a discussion on crisis and change in organzational contexts. We are living in a time of continual global upheaval, which brings about organizational challenges. These challenges can be intimidating and cause psychological distress, making it difficult to logically address them. They are also increasingly interrelated, creating unpredictable consequences. A systems-psychodynamic approach offers a more holistic view of crisis and change in organizations; it looks at the overlaps between the intrapersonal (a person's inner life), the interpersonal (pairs and groups), and the system (inside and outside the organization). Five premises underly the systems-psychodynamic approach, all of which are discussed. This chapter ends by describing the organization of the rest of the book with specific chapters being dedicated to the three different levels of the systems-psychodynamic approach.

• Organizational development
• Organizational change
• Crisis management
• Leadership development
• Social and global issues
• Psychology