Theories and Perspectives in Business Administration

Business administration is a scientific field described as complex, diverse, and eclectic. Acknowledging the multiplicity of the field and the many challenges faced by students of business administration, there is a need for a book on theories and perspectives and how they can be applied. This book outlines a broad set of contemporary and frequently used theories and perspectives. Based on a selection conducted through a survey and discussions with colleagues, sixteen theories and perspectives are presented by the contributing authors. The book covers both a tradition based on the assumption of economic man and the more interpretivist-oriented traditions. It addresses undergraduate and graduate students who want to apply a specific theory or perspective to study phenomena within the field of business administration research. Theories and perspectives ?in this book: Agency theory ?The business network approach ?Contingency theory ?The resource-based view ?Transaction cost economics ?The neoclassical perspective ?Decision-making in organizations ?Institutional theory ?Actor-network theory ?Symbolic interactionism ?Cultural approaches Critical theories ?Discourse and discourse analysis ?Practice theory ?Gender theories ?Service marketing.