ORGANIZATION (Characteristics of a human)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2412 ▶ |
| Object type | Human sciences, Methodology or model |
According to R. ACKOFF “The four essential characteristics of an organization can be briefly identified as its: a) content, b) structure, c) communications, and d) decision-making (choice) procedures” (1960, p.3).
It is this last point that identifies human organizations, as different from those defined by BERTALANFFY
ACKOFF states in a more detailed way:
- “1. Some of its components are… human beings. Wires, poles, switchboards and telephones may constitute a communication system, but they do not constitute an organization…
- “2. Responsability for choices from the set of possible acts in any specific situation is divided among two or more individuals or groups of individuals… a) by function … b) by geography … c) by time….
- “3. The functionally distinct subgroups are aware of each other's behavior either through communication or observation…
- “4. The system has some freedom of choice of both means (courses of action) and ends (desired outcomes) (p.2).
How these characteristics show through in specific parts of an organization is described for example as follows by H. MINTZERG (1979) who identifies the following ones:
“- the operating core where tasks are centred around the actual production of goods or services
- the strategic apex where top management functions are carried out
- the middle line which links thestrategic apex to the operational core
- the technostructure where thestructure and processes within the organization are planned, organized and re-organized
- the support staff which supports the functioning of the operational core“