This text investigates the systemic mechanisms through which large-scale organizations, including corporations and government entities, engage in deviant and illegal behaviors. Authors Richard Lundman and M. David Ermann provide a comprehensive framework for analyzing organizational misconduct, moving beyond individual-level explanations to examine the structural incentives and institutional pressures that foster unethical practices. By synthesizing classic sociological theory with contemporary case studies, the authors argue that deviance is an inherent, recurring feature of modern institutional life rather than an anomaly.

Experts and educators frequently utilize this reader as a foundational text for undergraduate courses in sociology and criminology. Readers note that the text provides a clear, accessible entry point into complex discussions regarding institutional accountability and the sociology of deviance.