Organizational Metaphors

NOBL Academy
Machine: an organization is a series of connected parts arranged in a logical order in order to produce a repeatable output
Organism: an organization is a collective response to its environment and, to survive, must adapt as the environment changes
Brain: an organization is a set of functions designed to process information and learn over time
Cultural System: an organization is a mini-society, with its own culture and subcultures defined by their values, norms, beliefs, and rituals
Political System: an organization is a game of gaining, influencing, and coordinating power
Psychic Prison: an organization is a collection of myths and stories that restrict people’s thoughts, ideas, and actions
Instrument of Domination: an organization is a means to impose one’s will on others and exploit resources for personal gains
Flux and Transformation: an organization is an ever-changing system indivisible from its environment

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