ABSTRACT
The conflict between man and organization has interested social philosophers for some time. One of the historical roots of this interest can be traced to Rousseau, who saw in institutionalization the destruction of man's true and better nature. Karl Marx and a number of other sociological theorists have written about the frustrations imposed on man by the nature of industrial organization. The conflict lies partly in the specialization and routinization of mass production and partly in the worker's lack of control over his work or over his destiny in the organization. According to Marx, the worker is “separated” from the means of production, which he does not own, and suffers “alienation”–a sense of powerlessness and a lack of positive identity with his work (106, 135).
