Management and Organization in Germany

Book excerpt: This highly original and carefully researched work outlines the relationship between national and organizational culture, empirically investigates forms of organizational culture in Germany, and considers how economic performance and innovation are consequently affected. It charts the historical and intellectual origins of German national culture and presents a cultural account of the country's economic development, modes of commercial cooperation and current reform problems. Taking liberal political theory as its basis, the book identifies remainders of clan thinking and patronage - as well as pessimism and fear of modernity - as Germany's cultural burdens that hamper reform and innovation. Management and Organization in Germany suggests a combination of institutional and cultural approaches to Germany's modernization based on local but bold reform initiatives. This book combines history, political theory and administrative science and conveys management thinking and the current reform debates in Germany to a global readership.