The Mechanical Image Of Organization As An Organization

The overall structure of of various types of organizations can be framed by using metaphorical images which help to clarify the way that organizations operate. Morgan (2006) discusses several of these metaphorical images, including the image of an organization as a machine and the image of an organization as an organism. Each image is unique, but there are some similarities and many differences between the two. In order to understand each image meaningfully, the two images will be introduced, explained, compared, and contrasted in this paper. This will be followed by a personal discussion of which image the author would choose if only one image was available as the single way to structure an organization.

The Mechanical Image The theory of an organization as a mechanical image supports the idea that organizations should be managed as specialized, separate parts that contribute to a larger goal within the organization. There are several defining characteristics associated with the mechanical image of organization. A mechanical organization typically has a structure that is characterized as

Instead there is little to no focus on defining specialized, individual tasks. Jobs are specified through communication and interaction between employees who are constantly working together (Morgan, 2006). The organization has overarching goals, but employees are expected to work together, innovate, and work creatively to meet those goals. Employees have a much greater sense of autonomy in the biological approach as organism. This results in a different approach to authority in each approach to organization. While authority with the mechanistic approach is clearly defined and formal, the organism approach allows for authority to be constantly changing in order to be flexible with needs that arise related to the approaches that are being used to meet overarching