Explore the groundbreaking theory of symbolic management in ‘Symbolic Management’ by James Westphal and Sun Hyun Park. This essential read from The Bookish Owl reveals how appearances often mask reality in corporate governance, from internal relationships to external stakeholder interactions. Westphal and Park present a powerful behavioral alternative to traditional economic perspectives like agency theory, demonstrating how symbolic management activities have shaped historical shifts in governance logic. Discover extensive empirical research that offers critical insights for regulators, investors, and business leaders. This insightful book challenges conventional wisdom and provides a compelling new framework for understanding organizational effectiveness and stakeholder perceptions. Essential for anyone interested in organizational behavior and corporate strategy.