The systemic view provides a basic approach through which people may advance their understanding of knowledge production in organizations. One of the most important contributions to this systemic view is the theory of social autopoiesis which emphasizes that knowledge production of organizations can only be understood through the view of a social autopoietic system. Recent developments in the field of organization research have started to view organization as a process rather than as entity. The author combines in this book these two approaches - autopoietic systemic view and process thinking - in a way that organizations are seen as processual autopoietic systems.

Autorentext
Dr (Tech.) Kaj U. Koskinen has worked for many years as project manager in several international engineering companies, including Outokumpu and Honeywell. His main experience derives from process automation. Since 1997 he has been an Adjunct Professor in the department of Industrial Management and Engineering at Tampere University of Technology, Pori. Dr Koskinen's research interest is focused on knowledge and project management and he has published several articles and autopoietic knowledge systems in project-based companies. Dr. Koskinen collaborates with Professor Emeritus Pekka Pihlanto in these areas especially on an organic perspective to knowledge management in project-based companies.

Inhalt

Preface by Johan Roos.- Processual Knowledge Production in Autopoietic Organizations.- Organization.- Systemic View and Systems Thinking.- Autopoiesis.- Process Perspective.- Luhmann's View of Social Autopoietic Systems.- Epistemological Assumptions.- Knowledge and Knowledge Management.- Evolution and Learning in Organizations.- Micro-Macro Problem.- Macro and Micro Processes.- Firm as a Processual Autopoietic Knowledge Production Organization. <