To Örebro University

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