Behavioral Theory of the Firm

Behavioural Theory of the Firm has become a classic work in organizational theory, and is one of the most significant contributions to improving the theory of the firm. This second edition includes new material which puts the original text in a contemporary context.

Richard Cyert is President of the Carnegie Bosch Institute at the Carnegie Mellon University. He is also author/co-author of numerous books and has published over 100 articles in economics, management and behavioral sciences.
James March is Fred H Merrill Professor of Management, and Professor of Political Science and Sociology at Stanford University. He has jointly written many books and has written numerous articles on the subject of behavioral science.

List of Tables and Figures

vii

Acknowledgments

ix

Preface to the Second Edition

xi

Introduction

1

(3)

Antecedents of the Behavioral Theory of the Firm

4

(26)

The theory of the firm

4

(12)

Organization theory

16

(3)

Research questions in a revised theory of firm decision making

19

(3)

Summary

22

(8)

Appendix: Mathematical theory of the firm

23

(7)

Organizational Goals

30

(22)

The problem of collective goals

30

(3)

The goal formation process

33

(13)

Business goals and price and output decisions

46

(4)

Summary

50

(2)

Organizational Expectations

52

(47)

Expectations in theories of business decision making

52

(3)

Four case studies in the use of expectations

55

(24)

Communications in theories of business decision making

79

(1)

Two experiments on organizational communication

80

(13)

Implications for a theory of organizational expectations

93

(6)

Organizational Choice

99

(37)

A partial model of organizational choice

100

(17)

The firm as an adaptive institution

117

(3)

Standard operating procedures

120

(14)

Summary

134

(2)

A Specific Price and Output Model

136

(25)

General view of price and output determination in a retail department store

137

(4)

Details of output determination

141

(6)

Details of price determination

147

(8)

Tests of the detailed models

155

(4)

Summary

159

(2)

A Summary of Basic Concepts in the Behavioral Theory of the Firm

161

(16)

Goals, expectations, and choice

162

(2)

Four major relational concepts

164

(10)

The basic structure of the organizational decision-making process

174

(3)

Some Implications

177

(37)

Descriptive analysis: the firm

178

(12)

Descriptive analysis: aggregates of firms

190

(6)

Descriptive analysis: non-business organizations

196

(5)

Normative analysis: the firm

201

(5)

Normative analysis: economic policy

206

(5)

Summary

211

(3)

An Epilogue

214

(33)

Core ideas of the behavioral theory of the firm

214

(2)

Developments in economic theories of the firm

216

(9)

Developments in behavioral studies of organizational decision making

225

(12)

Postscript

237

(10)

Index

247

(3)

Author Index

250

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The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Behavioral Theory of the Firm

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Behavioral Theory of the Firm

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License