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Economic decision-making in firms is influenced not only by market factors but also by internal dynamics. Firms, as large and complex organizations, actively shape and respond to market conditions through their structures and strategies. Four key aspects have been emphasized in order to study the internal dynamics of firms, which are: 1. Focusing on a few critical economic decisions made by firms, 2. Developing a process-oriented model of the firm, 3. Ensuring models are closely linked to empirical observations, and 4. Creating a theory with general applicability beyond the specific firms studied. This classic work highlights the importance of understanding the internal and external factors that influence firm decision-making. Throughout the book the assumption of rationality is challenged, both empirically and descriptively.
I found this book to be completely unreadable and I really gave it a good shot because I am interested in understanding the behavioral theory of the firm (or at least I was before trying to read this sucker).
This classic work uses economic and decision theories to describe the behavior of the firm. Best quote, "...we cannot assume that a rational manager can treat the organization as a simple instrument in his dealings with the external world" (p. 205).