ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that it is common to assume that formal organizations are clearly distinguishable from their environments, that they have identities of their own, can be governed, and are hierarchical and rational. It shows that notions of identity, hierarchy and rationality are deeply rooted in our culture, and are based on the concept of the individual. The individual is one of the central institutions in Western culture, an institution which has given rise to a large number of formal and informal rules for behaviour. The actions of organizations are assumed to be governed by the thoughts and talk of their leaders. Management talk and decisions may be in agreement with organizational actions, but rather than controlling those actions they may justify and defend them to the outside world. The individual-rational traits were strong both in the proposals of the commission and in the reasoning and motivations it presented.
