Organisations are Socially Constructed Phenomena

Organizations are instruments created to achieve other ends. The word organization which is derived from the Greek word ‘organon’ means a tool or instrument. Therefore, ideas such as tasks, goals, aims and objectives have become such fundamental organizational concepts. Organizations are a complex and paradoxical phenomena and there may be challenges in understanding them. Metaphor is a primal force through which humans create meaning by using one element of experience to understand another. The use of different metaphors lead to different explanations and theories of organizations helps us to think and see organizations from different perspectives. Each provides a certain view of the organization and can be convincing but it does not provide a clear picture of an organization. Therefore, by exploring the implications of different metaphors it is possible to understand the nature of an organization.

Machines have become a very important part of our lives and have influenced every aspect of our day-to-day activities. In a machine every part plays a clearly defined role and works together without any rest in order for it to function. This image of an organization that works like a machine makes me think of an organization as a machine. I see employees of the organization working carefully on their assigned task, allowing the next person to continue the work. Many of the organizations today can be seen or are expected to operate in a mechanical way. Image of an organization as a machine makes me think of the timing system as well. Machines are expected to perform a task in a certain amount of time without any failure leading to increase in production. Organizations have adopted this system expecting their workers to do the work as ...

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...challenges it faces. The easiest way to view the nature of corporate culture is to observe the day to day functioning of a group or organization as if we were an outsider. The characteristics of the culture being observed will gradually become evident as one becomes aware of the patterns of interaction between individuals, the language that is used, the images and themes explored in conversation, and the various rituals of daily routine (Morgan, p125).

Leadership styles influence culture and provide key insights into why organizations work the way they do. Gender may also be a powerful cultural force. Traditional forms of organization are often dominated and shaped by male value systems. Male dominated value systems are logical, linear, thoughts and actions drive results rather than network or community building.

Works Cited

Images of Organization; Gareth Morgan