The Organization of Hypocrisy

Contemporary organizations are increasingly the object of a large number of demands – often conflicting demands. They are expected to be efficient and profitable, to provide good working conditions, to protect nature, and more. “Corporate social responsibility” is a catchword of the day. In this pioneering, now classic, and still highly relevant book, Nils Brunsson analyses the way organizations handle a complex environment by including conflicting demands in their structures and by compensating for their actions with contradictory decisions, and vice versa. Since the original publication of The Organization of Hypocrisy, many instances of organizational hypocrisy have been studied, and hypocrisy continues to be a common phenomenon, salient for social scientists and others to be aware of and understand.

Contemporary organizations are increasingly the object of a large number of demands – often conflicting demands. They are expected to be efficient and profitable, to provide good working conditions, to protect nature, and more. “Corporate social responsibility” is a catchword of the day. In this pioneering, now classic, and still highly relevant book, Nils Brunsson analyses the way organizations handle a complex environment by including conflicting demands in their structures and by compensating for their actions with contradictory decisions, and vice versa. Since the original publication of The Organization of Hypocrisy, many instances of organizational hypocrisy have been studied, and hypocrisy continues to be a common phenomenon, salient for social scientists and others to be aware of and understand.