The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know: Studies in Organizational Behavior

by R. Richard Ritti

Now in its Sixth Edition, this OB reader continues to both instruct and entertain the current generation of students and professionals about workplace realities. Going beyond the usual technical/rational analysis of books on organizational behavior, each chapter is a fictionalized account of actual workplace happenings, and involves a continuing cast of characters whom readers come to know. Each account makes a point of its own, or illustrates theoretical material covered in the introductions to parts and sections. For instance, why would a plant manager call a continuing series of 6:30am meetings about coordination of efforts, and then cancel them after a short while? (He effectively used negative reinforcement to reward the coordination that resulted from imposing the inconvenient meetings – aside from whatever the participants may have discussed.) The "realness" of this text continues to draw a kind of fan mail from both students and others. As one Vice President of Sales for a nationally known corporation put "After 18 years in business life I only wish I had read it much earlier. Your book should be required reading for anyone embarking into any kind of organizational life . . ."

Genres: Business, School, Nonfiction, Psychology, Leadership

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Jim Bennett]

Once, in a meeting, another noticed what was going on before I did. I later asked why. He recommended this book.
I no longer lend my copy: it's getting dog-eared. But every time I did lend it, the borrower was 'forced' to buy his/her own copy.
You will read, in every chapter, a story about persons interacting in an office situation. (While titles may change, fundamental personalities and pecking orders will not.) The story will unfold an interesting, somewhat odd, 'happening' in that office or business environment.
Then the Professor will explain. Everything.
You will learn something in every chapter. This is the most valuable book for working in a business environment that I have ever seen.
"This could have saved me four years." actual comment from a reader.

[Stephen]

READ AUG 2009

A good "dramaturgy" that answers the question: How do leaders work within the culture of the organization? Best quote: "No organization functions as subordinates commonly understand it to function, and no organization could. Pretense is necessary to maintain the allegiance of the faithful--recruits, lower echelons, the public" (p. 12).

[Shanna]

As someone who is trying (very hard) to enter into the workforce, I found this very entertaining, yet extremely insightful. There are A LOT of great tips in here for a broad range of people dealing with a broad range of situations.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a newbie, a manager, or a CEO.

[Lily]

Still consider this as one of the best organizational behavior books I have read. Used it in business school at Columbia in 1981. Date below is when we read it in our book club at the suggestion of a colleague of mine to whom I had introduced it.

[Monya De]

Many white men in business think they are Aesop. This book seems to describe the status quo in a disorganized muddle of stories, without any real information on how the protagonist could advance. Hoping the fable-book trend is over.

[Hong]

Not really interesting. The book is too verbose on each topic -- I believe that this whole book can be condensed into 20 pages without any loss of actual content.

[Kris]

Excellent book to get newcomers up to speed in the corporate culture labyrinth

[Anna J]

Old fashioned situational leadership book. Has a few good lessons, and is a quick read.

[Aron]

If you have to read only one book on organizational behavior, this is the one you should read. I first read this book when I did my Masters in management, and 30 years later I still apply its lesson. An easy read filled with practical insights about how humans behave inside organizations.

[Alan]

Great book on the rituals of corporate life. Used to give it to newly hired engineers, who expected things to make sense.

[Muhbat Ali]

godd

[JP]

I read this in high school after seeing my Dad reading it and flipping through it enough to get intrigued. It was a formative intro for me into the sociology of business.