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The way we work is changing. New information and communication technologies (ICTs) have enabled new forms of work organization—necessitating new ways to communicate, coordinate, and collaborate on work. So, increasingly, we find ourselves working in temporary, loosely organized, specialist-heavy, project-oriented teams—all-edge adhocracies. And these adhocracies work very differently from bureaucratic hierarchies, which organized us throughout the 20th century. They have different strengths, weaknesses, and possibilities. This book examines different aspects of all-edge adhocracies: why they are needed, how they emerged, how they are structured, how they develop, how they interact with other kinds of work organization, and what they need to thrive. Throughout, the book grounds its discussion in case studies of all-edge adhocracies at work, helping readers to understand and apply the principles to their own organizations.

A biological understanding of social behavior is now part of modern science. We know that previously assumed social or cultural causes of behavior have their origins, at least in part, in human biology. Similarly, we now know that social circumstances (such as stressful working conditions) can have profound effects on our biological functioning. The purpose of this book is to introduce scholars to biological and evolutionary perspectives on organizational behavior (OB). Its specific goals are to: (1) start a dialogue between OB and biology, (2) encourage research on biological and OB linkages, (3) provide an initial framework for biological bases of organizational behavior, and (4) stimulate discussions about potential applications. Conceptually, the chapters on this volume reflect an “extended phenotype” view of human behavior in organizations—examining the interplay and inter-relations among genotypes, phenotypes, and symbolic and tangible human creations. The volume contains 12 chapters, which are organized into five sections: introduction; genetics; individual differences and work behavior; physiology and organizational behavior; evolution and organization; and challenges ahead. The chapters contain enough background to orient readers who may have little knowledge of biology, yet they also provide substantive contributions to advancing understanding of specific areas of biology and human behavior in organizations. They are both synthetic and forward looking.