ABSTRACT
A defining characteristic of the social entity known as an organization is, as the name suggests, its state of being organized. According to common usage, an “organization” is an arrangement of interdependent parts, each having a special function with respect to the whole. Even casual observation of the behavior of members of an organization, such as an industrial firm, a hospital, or a university, reveals its organized character. The members assemble on schedule, each person engages in a limited number of activities, the range of interpersonal transactions is restricted and stable over time, and the style of social interaction is patterned. Behavior has a reasonably high degree of predictability, and people know rather well what to expect of one another. Moreover, the activities of different individuals tend to combine in such a way as to result in organizational accomplishments. The industrial firm turns out products and makes profits, the hospital provides medical care, and the university creates alumni.
