utility of the concept of the organizational life cycle. case 2

Running Head : The utility of the concept of the organization life cycle

Name

University

Course

Tutor

Date

The utility of the concept of the organizational life cycle

In this metaphor the organizations is likened to an `organism organisms possess unique characteristics that would include environmental conditions , adaptation , life cycles , recycling , needs homeostasis , evolution , survival for the fittest , health , illness (Lawley , James Tompkins , Penny , 2000

These characteristics are important because they enable us identify ways in which organizations just like organisms adapt to various situations depending on factors

like environment , age and other important variables

Of these characteristics the most important characteristics is the aging process or phenomena , which is instinctive to all living organisms and in a way is quite predictive . The aging process can also be described as a life cycle that entails different predictable growth stages . Each stage in a lifecycle has unique characteristics that are inherent in that particular stage

The organization lifecycle model is therefore a very important idea that helps identify , just like in organisms such important stages as birth , growth , maturity , aging and eventually death . The concept therefore enables the manager detect the stage the organization is at and enables him /her predict the characteristics of the stage that follows . This enables him /her prepare well in advance and understand in a better way why the organization behaves ' the way it does in any particular cycle . In a nutshell the organism metaphor can add substantial depth to the machine metaphor , and help us understand a new range of phenomena ( HYPERLINK "http /cd .tuiu .edu /MGT501 /modules /Module02 /index .htm http /cd .tuiu .edu /MGT501 /modules /Module02 /index .htm

However the concept should not be applied holistically because it has some limitations . Organisms are bound by organic limits imposed by flesh ( HYPERLINK "http /cd .tuiu .edu /MGT501 /modules /Module02 /index .htm http /cd .tuiu .edu /MGT501 /modules /Module02 /index .htm . This means that at some point the organism will cease to live it will die . While this maybe true to some extent within the organization set up , some organizations do not have to die they live beyond the ordinary organism age ' as we know it . For example the Catholic Church which has been in existent for over 2000 years is still strong and vibrant apart from various changes that come with the changing dynamic world HYPERLINK "http /cd .tuiu .edu /MGT501 /modules /Module02 /index .htm http /cd .tuiu .edu /MGT501 /modules /Module02 /index .htm

Another factor that the concept would find difficulty in identifying analogues for , would be how to try to describe how organizations carry out such organism processes of eating , sleeping , excreting , growing and dying

In my view the most useful number of stages for a model cycle would be ten . This view is in support to the 10 stage organizational life cycle developed by Ichak Adizes as very good model for any organizations lifecycle even before inception . The life cycle also has various sub stages

The reason for supporting this model is...