A volume in Research in Management (Sponsored by the Southern Management Association)
Series Editors Linda L. Neider and Chester A. Schriesheim,
University of Miami
Mirroring a parallel movement in psychology, one recent trend in the study of
organizations has been an increased focus on positive management and organizational behavior.
However, while contributing to an enhanced understanding of organizational phenomena, this
focus tends to ignore negative aspects of workplace behavior, which can have very serious
consequences for individuals, groups, and organizations. Given what many of us have seen over
the past year in terms of the handling (mis-handling) of downsizing, restructuring, and
compensation, it seems clear that the darker side of management is a topic of great concern.
Thus, Volume 8 of Research in Management is devoted to exploring what has been
called "The Dark Side" of management and organizational behavior. It includes seven chapters
that are written by leading experts on a diverse range of topics, including abusive supervision attributions, dysfunctional mentors,
destructive executives, social exclusion, public and private deviance, instrumental counterproductive behavior, and an examination of
the difference between abusive and supportive leadership.
Each of these chapters makes a unique contribution to understanding negative workplace behavior and each should stimulate a
future stream of research in the same or related domains. Comments by the editors are also provided, highlighting other areas where the
study of "dark side" behavior and phenomena would seem particularly beneficial for the advancement of knowledge about
organizations and their effective functioning.