This groundbreaking book develops a new organizational theory derived from ideas in statistics and psychometrics.

The author's core premise is that errors known to occur in social science research must also occur when managers look at their data and seek to make inferences about cause and effect. Statistico-organizational theory uses methodological principles to predict when errors occur and how great they will be.

Expanding on this concept, The Meta-Analytic Organization offers new theoretical propositions about organizational strategy and structure with wide application to human resource management, international business, and more.

“This book offers a new organization theory positioned at the organizational level of analysis, a welcome supplement to the population and field-level theories that are currently the rage. Donaldson draws on the principles of meta-analysis and statistical inference to conceptualize the formal organization as an information aggregator. …This book sensitizes the reader to the information processing capacities (and weaknesses) of formal organizations, adding important insights that continue the long tradition of organization theory represented by Thompson, Lawrence and Lorsch, the Aston Group, and Galbraith.” — William McKinley, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (*)

“Donaldson does more than catalog a compelling set of statistical foibles to which managers fall prey. He uses them to build theory and inform managerial practice.” — Gary Johns, Concordia University

“Donaldson lucidly presents statistico-organizational theory—beginning with biased data and applying statistical principles to develop improved new organization theory. He shows serious scholars how to improve their 'game;' his new book is a tour de force.” — Richard Burton, Duke University