Stop starting apps popping up in front

Question

Sometimes I am working in – let's say – Mail and I decide I am going to need – let's say – Word a bit later. Then I click the Word icon in the Dock and continue working in Mail.
The problem is, that various Word screens keep popping up in front of Mail, which means I have to keep switching back to Mail. I use command-tab to get back to Mail, which is easy enough, but I just do not want apps to get in my way.
It's not only Word which does this, by the way.
Is there a way to make sure that applications, after having been launched, do not pop up in front, but just start up in the background?

Answer 1

YES AAAAAAAAAH THIS IS A REAL AGRESSION TO THE NERVES ! ! !
I need to meet the dude who decided "hey wouldn't it be a great idea if we had the applications bothering you all the time as soon as they need your attention, instead of just letting you get to them whenever you feel like it ? now where's my promotion ? ^^"
WHERE IS THIS MORON AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
does anyone know of a 3rd party software that would keep each app where it is whatever happens to it ?
dammit