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The ecology of organizations and the concept of acceptance change
Author(s) -
Woods M. F.,
Hyde S.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
randd management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1467-9310
pISSN - 0033-6807
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9310.1979.tb00005.x
Subject(s) - thriving , analogy , battle , tree (set theory) , adaptation (eye) , ecology , action (physics) , sociology , psychology , geography , social science , epistemology , biology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , philosophy , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
We see in analogy an effective and creatively led organisation as a thriving and successful tree. To understand a'successful tree' we need to study the ecology of the tree—the tree's own fundamental characteristics and how they relate to the total environment. We also need to understand how the tree adapts and renews itself in the continual battle for survival. We see some possible adaptations as being readily accepted by the tree while others as being resisted to the extent that if forced will result in its death. Relating our analogy back to organisations we have developed a system by which senior managements can study the ecology of their own organisations and give priorities to particular courses of adaptive action for survival. We also consider two methods by which managers can assess the acceptability of particular changes in their organisations.