In Chapter 1 we looked at the conceptual foundations for studying business
organisation and management and the evolution of theory. We have
established that it is not a subject with clear boundaries – it is a growing
and developing area of study. In this chapter we try to understand why it
is such a complex area of study with so many different, often competing,
perspectives. First, we consider how organisations, particularly business
organisations, pervade our lives and significantly affect the way we live.
Given this scenario, it is not difficult to see that the subject is of interest
to many academic disciplines, in particular the social sciences: sociology,
psychology, economics and anthropology, all of which have, and are
contributing to, the development of theory and practice. Also, we see that
because our society is undergoing rapid change, so too does the theory and
practice of management and business. Finally, taking this idea even further,
we can see that as business and management is of fundamental importance
to all members of society, we all – individually and in groups – have
different views on how business organisations are structured and managed.