09 Nov Response to Thread
According to Organization Theory and Design, Daft describes the three elements that outline organizational structure, and they are associated with the vertical and horizontal components of organizing. However, Morgan used metaphors and images to describe organizational structure. A metaphor is a powerful symbolic means to clarify details that are difficult to understand or interpret. God utilized many metaphors in the bible because he desired that his children understand the word of God. One metaphor used to the church in scriptures is "the Bride of Christ" (Ephesians 5:24-27).
Morgan utilized eight organizational metaphors: machines, organisms, brains, cultural systems, political systems, psychic prisons, instruments of domination, and flux and transformation.
Organizations operate like a machine. A machine is comprised of vital structures that function interdependently(Morgan, 2006, p. 11).
In business, strategic learning is paramount because of technological advancement, development, and continuous modification in processes. The brain is perplexed and controls bodily functions, and organizations are complicated as well. An organization has a DNA where it can adapt to the complex changing environment(Cornelissen &Kafouros, 2008, p.366).
"Organizations are considered as the open-systems which resemble the living organisms and need to survive and grow through adaptation, flexibility and the importance of the environment in which the organization exists” (Itkin & Nagy, 014, p. 40). The organization’s subsystems are aligned together to be alive for growth. Organizations deal with internal needs and adapt to environmental issues.
The organizational culture is shared views of how the business should operate, which shape each employee’s reality(Morgan, 2006,p. 115).
Psychic Prisons are associated with dealing with adverse factors that affect people in the organization and should be addressed (Morgan, 2006, p. 207.
Flux/transformation is an organization that transformed due to crisis, chaos, or complex encounters (Morgan, 2006, p. )
To conclude, some organizations are complex and challenging to comprehend, but Daft and Morgan described the layers that contribute to the complexity. For organizations to remain relevant in a competitive market, each sector of the company should be analyzed to stay optimal.
References
Allen B. A, House W.H. (Th. D.) The Nelson Study Bible. Nelson
Complete Study Bible
Cornelissen, J. P., & Kafouros, M. (2008). Metaphors and theory building in organization theory: What determines the impact of a metaphor on theory? British Journal of Management, 19(4), 365-379
Itkin, H., & Nagy, M. (2014). Theoretical and practical use of metaphors in organizational development and beyond. Pannon Management
Review,3(4), 37–7
Morgan, G. (2006). Images of Organization, Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications
