In this revealing study larry hirschhorn examines the rituals or social defenses organizations develop to cope with change using extended ease studies from offices factories and social services he describes why these often irrational practices that fragment and injure individuals within the workplace exist how they operate and how they can be reshaped to enhance peoples work experience. The workplace within is a deeply ambitious book it addresses practical human problems in organizations drawing on solid case data and at the same time it raises questions at a broad philosophical and policy level about good organizations how to go beyond social defenses and the scope of changes required in our political economy to build . The workplace within psychodynamics of organizational life volume 8 of mit press series on organization studies volume 8 of organization studies author larry hirschhorn edition reprint revised publisher mit press 1988 isbn 0262581019 9780262581011 length 265 pages subjects. Workplace within psychodynamics of organizational life mit press series on organization studies hardcover january 1 1988 on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers workplace within psychodynamics of organizational life mit press series on organization studies hardcover january 1. The postindustrial age has brought with it a new work environment complete with new forms of organization and patterns of behavior it has also created new anxieties for workers and for organizations in this revealing study larry hirschhorn looks at the social defenses that organizations develop to cope with change using extended case studies and examples from offices factories and social