Nils Brunsson
Professor emeritus at Department of Business Studies; Guests and others
- Mobile phone:
- +46 76 128 03 00
- E-mail:
- nils.brunsson@fek.uu.se
- Visiting address:
- Ekonomikum
Kyrkogårdsgatan 10, ingång C
751 20 UPPSALA - Postal address:
- Box 513
751 20 UPPSALA
Download contact information for Nils Brunsson at Department of Business Studies; Guests and others
- Academic merits:
- PhD
- CV:
- Download CV
Short presentation
Research Projects:
Partial organization
The construction of competition
Meta-organizations
Biography
Nils Brunsson is professor of management and affiliated with Uppsala University and Score (Stockholm Centre for Organizational Research) at the Stockholm School of Economics and Stockholm University, Sweden. He has held chairs in management at the Stockholm School of Economics and at Uppsala University. Brunsson has published numerous articles and authored, co-authored or edited thirty books in the field of management and organization studies. The list of books includes The Irrational Organization (1985), The Organization of Hypocrisy (1989), The Reforming Organization (1993), A World of Standards (2000), Mechanisms of Hope (2006), The Consequences of Decision-Making (2007), Meta-organizations (2008), Reform as Routine (2009), Decisions (2017), Organizing and Reorganizing Markets (2018), Organization outside Organizations (2019) and Competition. What it is and why it happens (2021). Nils Brunsson has studied organizational decision-making, administrative reform, standardization and the organization of markets. His current research interests include partial organization, meta-organizations and the social construction of competition and conflict. Brunsson has received several awards for his research and teaching and he is an honorary member of the European Group for Organization Studies (EGOS).

Publications
Recent publications
Organization Studies and the Legal Person
Part of Journal of Organizational Sociology, p. 113-136, 2024
- DOI for Organization Studies and the Legal Person
- Download full text (pdf) of Organization Studies and the Legal Person
The Construction of Competition in Public Research Funding Systems
Part of Handbook of Public Funding of Research, p. 172-184, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023
‘Un-responsible’ Organization: How More Organization Produces Less Responsibility
Part of Organization Theory, 2022
- DOI for ‘Un-responsible’ Organization: How More Organization Produces Less Responsibility
- Download full text (pdf) of ‘Un-responsible’ Organization: How More Organization Produces Less Responsibility
Meta-Organizations: A Clarification and a Way Forward
Part of M@n@gement, p. 1-9, 2022
- DOI for Meta-Organizations: A Clarification and a Way Forward
- Download full text (pdf) of Meta-Organizations: A Clarification and a Way Forward
Competition: What it is and Why it Happens
Oxford University Press, 2021
All publications
Articles in journal
Organization Studies and the Legal Person
Part of Journal of Organizational Sociology, p. 113-136, 2024
- DOI for Organization Studies and the Legal Person
- Download full text (pdf) of Organization Studies and the Legal Person
‘Un-responsible’ Organization: How More Organization Produces Less Responsibility
Part of Organization Theory, 2022
- DOI for ‘Un-responsible’ Organization: How More Organization Produces Less Responsibility
- Download full text (pdf) of ‘Un-responsible’ Organization: How More Organization Produces Less Responsibility
Meta-Organizations: A Clarification and a Way Forward
Part of M@n@gement, p. 1-9, 2022
- DOI for Meta-Organizations: A Clarification and a Way Forward
- Download full text (pdf) of Meta-Organizations: A Clarification and a Way Forward
Where Does Competition Come From?: The role of organization
Part of Organization Theory, p. 1-24, 2020
- DOI for Where Does Competition Come From?: The role of organization
- Download full text (pdf) of Where Does Competition Come From?: The role of organization
Part of Organization Studies, p. 291-295, 2019
Tillit eller mätningar?: Politiker, professionella och administratörer inom högskolesektorn
Part of Organisation & Samhälle, p. 42-47, 2018
On the fruitfulness of the concept of partial organization: A rejoinder to Apelt et al.
Part of European Management Journal, p. 297-299, 2017
Resurrecting Organization by Going Beyond Organizations
Part of European Management Journal, p. 93-101, 2016
The paradox of organizing states
Part of Journal of international organizations studies, p. 5-24, 2016
My own book review: The Irrational Organization
Part of Management, p. 141-144, 2014
Part of Svensk företagsekonomisk tidskrift. Organisation & Samhälle, 2014
En organiserad organism av organisationer
Part of Svenska Dagbladet (8 januari 2013), 2013
The Dynamics of Standardization: Three Perspectives on Standards in Organization Studies
Part of Organization Studies, p. 613-632, 2012
Organization outside organizations: The significance of partial organization
Part of Organization, p. 83-104, 2011
L'organisation en dehors des organisations, ou l'organisation incomplète
Part of Le Libellio d’Aegis, p. 1-20, 2010
Mechanismen der Hoffnung in Revue für Postheroisches
Part of Management, p. 37-43, 2007
Part of Le Libellio, p. 1-3, 2007
Part of Organization, p. 619-624, 2007
Reforms, organization and hope
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management, p. 253-255, 2006
Administrative reforms as routines
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management, p. 243-252, 2006
Organizations and meta-organizations
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management, p. 429-449, 2005
La regulación suave desde una perspectiva organizaticional
Part of Gestión y Politica Pública, 2005
Organisationer med dubbla identiteter
Part of Nordiske Organisasjonsstudier, p. 58-74, 2004
Le conseil aux gouvernements et aux Etats: Interview
Part of Sociologies practiques, 2002
Constructing organizations: The case of public sector reform
Part of Organization Studies, p. 721-746, 2000
Constructing Health Care Accountants: Melding calculation and care
Part of Management Accounting Research, p. 31-35, 1998
Making things fit: The dynamics of new public management
Part of Accounting, Auditing and Accountability, p. 262-266, 1998
The Standardization of Organizational Forms as a Cropping-up Process
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management, p. 307-320, 1997
Part of Management Accounting Research, p. 323-335, 1994
Ideas and Actions: Justification and hypocrisy as alternatives to control
Part of Accounting, Organizations and Society, p. 489-506, 1993
Part of The International Executive, 1993
Cynical Action: A reply to Löwstedt
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management, p. 73-74, 1992
Part of Tvärsnitt, 1990
Part of Accounting, Organizations and Society, p. 47-59, 1990
Administrative Reforms as Routines
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management, p. 219-228, 1989
Part of Scandinavian Journal of Management Studies, p. 165-185, 1986
Part of Tvärsnitt, 1986
Adaptability and influence in state-owned enterprises
Part of Monografie i opracowania, p. 113-134, 1985
The Irrationality of Action and Action Rationality: Decisions, Ideologies and Organizational Actions
Part of Journal of Management Studies, p. 29-44, 1982
The functions of project evaluation
Part of R & D Management, p. 61-65, 1980
Part of Munich Social Review, p. 29-40, 1979
Part of Ekonomen, 1977
Vägkostnadsutredningens fortsatta arbete
Part of Ekonomisk Debatt, p. 46-48, 1974
Articles, review/survey
Part of Organization Studies, p. 7-27, 2015
Books
The Organization of Hypocrisy: Talk, Decisions and Actions in Organizations
Copenhagen Business School Press, 2019
Organizing and Reorganizing Markets
Oxford University Press, 2018
Decisions: the Complexities of Individual and Organizational Decision-Making
Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017
Cappelen Damm Høyskoleforlaget, 2015
Liber, 2014
Liber, 2014
SNS, 2010
Reform as Routine: Organizational change and stability in the modern world
Oxford University Press, 2009
SNS, 2009
The Consequences of Decision-Making
Oxford University Press, 2007
ASA, 2006
Mechanisms of Hope: Maintaining the dream of rationality in organizations
Copenhagen Business Press, Universitetsforlaget, 2006
Abstract,Liber, Copenhagen Business School Press, 2002
The Organization of Hypocrisy: Talk, decisions and actions in organizations
John Wiley & Sons, 1989
John Wiley & Sons, 1985
Staten och kommunernas expansion: Några enkla styrmedel
Finansdepartementet, 1983
Politik och administration: Utveckling och drivkrafter i en politiskt sammansatt organisation
Liber, 1981
Propensity of Change: An empirical study of decisions on reorientations
BAS, 1976
Chapters in book
The Construction of Competition in Public Research Funding Systems
Part of Handbook of Public Funding of Research, p. 172-184, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023
A new understanding of competition
Part of Competition, p. 1-25, Oxford University Press, 2021
Competition unbundled: taking stock and looking forward
Part of Competition, p. 221-236, Oxford University Press, 2021
Constructing competition for status: sports and higher education.
Part of Competition, p. 93-111, Oxford University Press, 2021
The Origins of Competition: institution and organization
Part of Competition, p. 61-76, Oxford University Press, 2021
Institution und Organisation: Zur Gegenüberstellung von zwei Schlüsselkonzepten
Part of Neo-Institutionalismus, p. 53-74, Transcript Verlag, 2020
The partial organization of markets
Part of Organization outside Organizations, p. 115-130, Cambridge University Press, 2019
Organizing and Reorganizing Markets and Formal Organizations: A Comparison
Part of Organizing and Reorganizing Markets, p. 264-277, Oxford University Press, 2018
Multiplicity, Complexity, and Recurrent Change
Part of Organizing and Reorganizing Markets, p. 249-263, Oxford University Press, 2018
Markets, Trust, and the Construction of Macro-Organizations
Part of Organizing and Reorganizing Markets, p. 136-152, Oxford University Press, 2018
When Sellers Create Markets: Dilemmas and Challenges in Markets for Professional Services
Part of Organizing and Reorganizing Markets, p. 82-100, Oxford University Press, 2018
Part of Organizing and Reorganizing Markets, p. 17-31, Oxford University Press, 2018
Markets, organizations, and Organization
Part of Organizing and Reorganizing Markets, p. 1-16, Oxford University Press, 2018
Part of The International Encyclopedia of Strategic Communication, John Wiley & Sons, 2018
Resurrecting Organization by Going Beyond Organizations
Part of Management research, Routledge, 2017
Part of The SAGE Encyclopedia of Corporate Reputation, Sage Publications, 2016
Las organizaciones internacionales como metaorganizaciones
Part of Puentes, fronteras y murallas disciplinarias, CIDE, 2016
New Public Organizations: A revivalist movement.
Part of Public Management in the Twenty-first Century, Universitetsforlaget, 2014
Hur vet du att inte björnen är farlig?
Part of Alla dessa marknader, Makadam Förlag, 2014
Från organisation till marknad: Tur och retur?
Part of Alla dessa marknader, Makadam Förlag, 2014
Hur vet du att inte björnen är farlig?
Part of Alla dessa marknader, Makadam Förlag, 2014
Från organisation till marknad - tur och retur?
Part of Alla dessa marknader, Makadam Förlag, 2014
Part of The Glocalization of Organization and Management, Routledge, 2013
How much do meta-organizations affect their members?
Part of Weltorganisationen, Springer VS, 2012
Företagsekonomi: Inte bara företags ekonomi
Part of Årsbok 2011, Kungl. Vetenskapssocieteten, 2012
Les inspirés - sont-ils bien inspirants?
Part of Les grands inspirateurs de la théorie des organisations, Ems, 2012
New Public Organizations: A Revivalist Movement
Part of Modernisering av offentlig sektor, p. 89-102, Universitetsforlaget, 2011
Politisering och företagisering: institutionell förankring och förvirring i organisationernas värld
Part of Ledning av företag och förvaltningar, SNS, 2011
New Public Organizations: A Revivalist Movement
Part of The Ashgate Research Companion to New Public Management, Ashgate, 2011
New Public Organizations: a Revivalist Movement
Part of The Ashgate Research Companion to New Public Management, p. 65-82, Ashgate, 2010
Internationale Metaorganisation und ihre Mitglieder
Part of Die Organisierte Welt, Nomos, 2009
Part of Learskapsboken, Liber, 2009
Efectos prácticos de las creencias: El caso de los mercados y las organizaciones
Part of Estudios Institucionales, Gedisa, 2009
Part of International Encyclopedia of Organization Studies, SAGE Publications, 2007
Part of Transnational Governance, University Press, 2006
Part of En illusion av frihet?/, Studentlitteratur, 2005
Part of Reform und Innovation in einer unstabilen Gesellschaft, Lucius et Lucius, 2005
Inte bara mode: Att skapa organisationer i offentlig sektor
Part of Modernisering av offentlig sektor, Universitetsforlaget, 2005
La Standardisation comme mode d´organisation
Part of Gouverner les organisations, L´Harmattan, 2004
Marknad, organisation och reform
Part of Den där marknaden, Studentlitteratur, 2004
Soft regulation from an organizational perspective
Part of Soft law in Governance and Regulation, Edward Elgar, 2004
Part of Northern Lights, Abstrakt Liber Copenhagen Business Press, 2003
Decisions as institutions: Introduction
Part of The Irrational Organization, Fagbokforlaget, 2000
Standardization as organization
Part of Organizing Political Institutions, Scandinavian University Press, 1999
Part of Strategic Human Resource Management, Sage, 1998
Part of Organisationsteori på svenska, Liber AB, 1998
Managing Organizational Disorder
Part of The Logic of Organizational Disorder, De Gruyter, 1996
Ideas and Actions: Justification and hypocrisy as alternatives to control
Part of Studies of Organizations, JAI Press Inc., 1995
Part of Från sanningssökande till styrmedel, Nerenius & Santérus, 1995
Part of Actes du Séminaire Contradictions et Dynamique des Organisations III, Ecole Polytechnique, 1992
L´irrazionalità dell´azione e razionalità d´azione: Decisioni, ideologie e azioni organizzative
Part of Strategic Management, Utet Libreria, 1992
Målstyring og virksomhetsplanlegging som forvaltningspolitisk strategi
Part of Målstyring og virksomhetsplanlegging i offentlig sektor, Alma mater, 1991
Part of Svensk demokrati i förändring, Carlsson Bokförlag, 1991
Politisering och företagisering: Institutionell förankring och förvirring i organisationernas värld
Part of Ledning av företag och förvaltningar, SNS, 1991
Entscheidungen in Organisationen
Part of Handbuch Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie, Psychologie Verlags Union, 1989
Industrial Policy as Implementation or Legitimation
Part of Organizing Industrial Development, De Gruyter, 1986
Forskningsområden inom kommunal ekonomi och organisation
Part of Ledarskapets förnyelse, Doxa, 1985
Artikelserie om kommunal ekonomi och organisation
Part of Kommunaktuellt, Kommunförbundet, 1985
Vem styr politikerna?: Tre myter om politiska beslut
Part of Vägen till planrike, Studentlitteratur, 1983
Styrproblem och styrmetoder i kommunal verksamhet
Part of Kommunal självstyrelse, Akademilitteratur, 1983
Svensk Kommunalekonomisk forskning
Part of Byggforskningsrådet, Byggforskningsrådet, 1983
Politikers inflytande på politiken
Part of Hotad sektor, Liber, 1982
Förvaltningsrevision och styrning: En teoriansats
Part of Är statsverksamheten effektiv?, Riksrevisionsverket, 1979
Förvaltningsrevision och kommunal politik, 1977
Part of Om uppföljning och utvärdering av kommunal verksamhet, Kommunförbundet, 1978
Collections (editor)
Competition: What it is and Why it Happens
Oxford University Press, 2021
Organization outside organizations: The abundance of partial organization in social life
Cambridge University Press, 2019
Att organisera marknader: Slutrapport från ett forskningsprogram
Makadam Förlag, 2015
Edward Elgar, 2008
EFI, Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, 2004
Oxford University Press, 2000
Nerenius & Santérus, 1998
Fagboksforlaget, 1998
Routledge, 1993
SNS, 1992
Carlsson, 1990
Reform som tradition: Administrativa reformer i Statens Järnvägar
EFI, Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, 1989
Kommunernas saerprag i ledelse og organisation
Dafolo, 1988
Politik och ekonomi: En kritik av rationalitet som samhällsföreställning
Doxa, 1986
Lokal mobilisering: Om industriers kommunalpolitik coh kommuners industripolitik
Doxa, 1983
Går det att spara?: Kommunal budgetering under stagnation
Doxa, 1982
Företagsekonomi - sanning och moral?: Om det normativa i företagsekonomisk idéutveckling
Studentlitteratur, 1981
Beslut och handling: Om politikers inflytande på politiken
Liber, 1979
Fartygstransporter i Dalarna: En ekonomisk bedömning
BAS, 1977