Organization theorists have since the 1980s pointed out that autopoiesis represents considerable potential for developing alternative ways of understanding organizations.

Niklas Luhmann's autopoiesis, being developed specifically for theorizing social systems, is gradually finding its way into organization studies.

The anthology discusses aspects that are of particular interest to both theoretical and empirical organization theory, and in doing so it enables students of organizations to acquire better appreciation of Luhmann's thinking.