The organization as a doublet

Organizations are living systems, similar to other living systems, but with an important difference. They are multiminded living systems. In this paper, the changing concept of organizations is sketched and it is shown how models actually influence the evolution of organizational types. In the history of organization there have been basically three main stages,viz., the machinistic, organismic, and multiminded stage. All three types still exist, so far as the later stages in fact include the former ones. The living systems theory (LST) is firmly based in the organismic model and thus provides an excellent basis for organizational development. However, the concepts of process autonomy and flexibility as well as dispersed decision-making will have to be included if the theory is to have an impact in the evolution of modern organizations. We believe that the extension of the LST using Biomatrix principles might be sufficient to meet the present challenge.