ABSTRACT
This book presents a theory of organisation as constituted by people and their relationships in organisational contexts. It is drawn from my own self-study and experience as a manager. It is written mainly for two audiences: (1) people studying on formal higher education courses, and also informal workplace-based courses, in management and organisation studies; (2) people positioned as teachers on those courses. Some will, I hope, relate to my story of how I have come to reconceptualise organisation study in terms of my own experience as I addressed the question, ‘How do I improve my work?’ (Whitehead, 1989). This theory is presented not as a finished product, nor in a coercive fashion. It is presented as current learning, a working theory in progress, likely to develop, a temporary best place. I hope that you as reader will take from my story whatever is appropriate to you, possibly to encourage you to theorise your own organisational experience in terms of how you give meaning to your work. Trying to understand our work is a first step to improving it.
