Organizations as Organisms

MGT 501

Dr. John Dudley Eveland

Organizations as Organisms

14 Aug 2009

Organizations are more than just machines that work for their own advantage with little or no regard to their surroundings. Organizations are seen as sets of interdependent sub-systems designed to balance the requirements of the environment with internal needs of groups and individuals to create a whole organism. This metaphor represents the organization as an “open system” in which individual, group and organizational health and happiness are essential ingredients of this metaphor. The organism metaphor portrays organizations as biological organisms: changing, adapting, evolving, which emphasizes generalized roles, problem solving orientation, loyalty to mission, creativity, innovation, and teamwork. The theory is that if the social needs of individuals and groups in the organization are met, and the organization is well designed to meet the needs of the environment, there is more likelihood of healthy adaptive functioning of the whole system (socio-technical systems). This paper intends to present the military and the orchestra as an organization, the most important problems they face, and the similarities and differences of both. Also, explain how TUIU operates similar to a military unit and how an organization who utilizes the “organism metaphor” in the workplace assist employee’s to better understand an organization.

An orchestra is a complex set of interdependent subsystems. The orchestra runs like an organization in terms of work function with distinct borders that consist of the orchestra itself, administrative staff, conducting staff, the board of directors, and service volunteers. I believe the most important system problem the orchestra is experiencing is financial troubles. The orchestra relies greatly on the external environment for its survival. Ticket sales, advisement dollars, and grants are some of the main sources that generate income for the orchestra....