Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership - 2021, 7th Edition - Paperback

by Knetsch

Reframing Artistry, Choice, and Leadership 7th Edition The Structural Frame explores the convergence of organizational structure and function, and shows why social architecture must take environment into account. Case studies illustrate successful alignment in diverse organizations, and guidelines provide strategic insight for avoiding common pathologies and achieving the right fit. The Human Resource Frame dissects the complex dynamics at the intersection of people and organizations and charts the leadership and human resource practices that build motivation and high performance. The Political Frame shows how competition, conflict, and the struggle for power and resources can be either a tool for growth or a toxic landmine for an individual or organization. Case studies show how both constructive and destructive practices influence social, political, and economic trends both within and beyond organizational boundaries. The Symbolic Frame defines organizational culture, and delves into the emotional and existential underbelly of social life. It underscores the power of symbolic forms such as heroes, myths, and rituals in providing the glue that bonds social collectives together. The Seventh Edition has been updated with new information on cross-sector collaboration, generational differences, virtual environments, globalization, cross-cultural communication, and more, with an expanded Instructor’s Guide that includes summaries, mini-assessments, videos, and extra resources.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction

522 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2022

Reviews

[Kevin Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a textbook, but it's a good textbook. It's long, but it's good. It's so long, in fact, that I kept saying "there's no way I could give this book five stars." I felt committed to reading the entire thing, but because of its sheer length, there were many parts that felt like drudgery.

That said, chapters 16 and 21 are so unbelievably good that I really do feel like the way I think about my work has forever changed. And, to the book's credit, you really can't fully appreciate chapters 16 and 21 without first listening to chapters 1 through 15 in particular. So reading those first sections might feel like drudgery, but once you get to 16 and 21, it will all feel worth it (at least it did to me), and I left feeling like, "Well dang I don't have a choice but to give it five stars."

Part of the specifics of this book are novel. Other parts feel a bit more intuitive (which even the others preview in the introduction). Nonetheless, the true genius is in the overall thesis that how you view a situation matters a great deal. That may sound like a generic platitude written out, but the book does a phenomenal job illustrating that point in a much more visceral way. So here I am again, forgiving the authors for such a ridiculously long book. I guess all I can say is: I understand now why they needed that length, and in the end I'm glad I stuck it out.

By the by, the premise of the book are these two points: (1) Point one, as a general notion, our frames - also known as mental models, maps, mindsets, schemas, paradigms, heuristics, or cognitive lens - really do matter and can drastically affect our effectiveness in leadership, (2) Point two is that, specifically, they argue there are four frames that leaders need to understand and be able to move about: the structural frame, the human resource frame, the political frame, and the symbolic frame. In the book, they expand upon each of these frames in great detail and then bring it all together with poignant examples showing their use.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really glad this textbook had an audiobook version, I mostly listened, sometimes reading along with the kindle version and occasionally just reading. It was nice to have both to be able to go back to the text for reference. I do not usually put textbooks in my Goodreads but I had to get through the entire thing so it definitely counts. It’s a decent reference and not terribly boring, but man oh man enough references to Trump already, political affiliations of the authors very obvious ;).

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class and I'll be honest, I listened to it while I read along in the book. The humor was great and I appreciated the updates in the 7th edition. The reader was a little rough but I put him on 1.2 and it went much better. I can appreciate the stories and comparisons they use. I might not understand it all but it helped to see why things are run they way they are.

[Spencer Brauchla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introspective. Retrospective. Prospective. This text is helpful at painting the different perspectives needed in order to better understand the many viewpoints needed to create and sustain progress for an organization.

[Trude Tanke · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok curriculum book. Its easy to follow, and the four frames are quite interesting. I feel like the most difficult frame (the symbolic frame) was a bit difficult to understand, and I wish they had made that a bit easier.
But if you want to read about the four frames this book should really help.

[Cedric Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book that will give great insight into organizational leadership.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best textbook I’ve ever been assigned it. I loved reading this and couldn’t soak in enough information.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. Shifted my mindset in many ways; far too many examples though.

[Alex Valencic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read upon the recommendation of my department leader. It is a textbook but doesn’t read like one. Great points, excellent theory combined with practice, applicable to the every setting!

[Carly G]

Read for EDU646 - Administration of Adult Education Programs