Sometimes the best way to understand something complicated and abstract is with a metaphor. Gareth Morgan suggested we can gain some good insights into the nature of organizations from 8 organizational metaphors.

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The Nature of Organizations
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This video is part of course module number 6.1.1
Program 6: Managing within Organizations
Course 1: The Nature of Organizations
Section 1: Introduction to Organizations


Other videos in this section include:
- What is an Organization?    • What is an Organization? - the Nature...  
- Organizations as Structures: Understanding an Organization as a Structure    • Organizations as Structures: Understa...  
- Organizations as Processes: Understanding an Organization as a Set of Processes    • Organizations as Processes: Understan...  
- The Features of Organizations: What an Organization Needs    • The Features of Organizations: What a...  
- Why do we need Organizations? Structure vs Agility    • Why do we need Organizations? Structu...  


LESSON NOTES
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None of these 8 organizational metaphors is sufficient in itself to fully understand organizations. They each give complementary perspectives:
1. Machines
A mechanistic view of organizations that stresses process and efficiency. Possibly at the cost of poor human relations and lower agility.
2. Organisms
Living systems adapt to their environments. But if they fail to adapt, they fail to thrive.
3. Brains
Rationality, learning and creativity. Stress the role of organizations as information processors.
4. Cultures
Sees organizations as a collection of values, beliefs, traditions, and rituals that provide distinctness.
5. Political Systems
A view that stresses the roles of interests, agendas, influence, alliances and, of course, power.
6. Psychic Prisons
Perceiving organizations as systems that repress and restrain members, due to conscious and unconscious pressures.
7. Flux and Transformation
Organizations are a platform for changes that can be adaptive or chaotic.
8. Instruments of Domination
Organizations are a means to overcome and dominate competitors – socially, economically, or politically.

RECOMMENDED EXERCISE
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Think about organizations where you have worked, or that you have encountered and know quite well.
1. For each one, which of the eight organizational metaphors works well? (4 MC CPD Points)
2. Can you find an example of an organization you know or have heard about, which fits with each of the eight organizational metaphors? (4 MC CPD Points)

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RECOMMENDED READING
=====================
- Understanding Organizations https://geni.us/oB774Do
- Images of Organization https://geni.us/hrOemEs
- Inside Organizations: 21 Ideas for Managers https://geni.us/YwwL
- Gods of Management: The Four Cultures of Leadership https://geni.us/bpPeC5


Managers Need a Basic set of kit to do your job well. Here are my top recommendations: https://kit.co/MikeClayton/manager-s-... (the links are affiliated)

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