Question 1
The main idea that Morgan propose about understanding an organization is by the use of the metaphor. A metaphor is the use of one scenario in explaining or understanding the other. The metaphor an organization is like a machine is used by Morgan. By this expression he means to say that the organization has lost all humanity and operates to achieve the highest effectiveness and efficiency without a regard for the individual components of the organization or their welfare. The machine organization relates to Mumford’s modern metropolis which emphasizes on capitalism and reward for the highest effort.
The organismic growth which emphasizes growth adaptation and relations to the environment is similar to the view by Mumford of the city that is perpetually changing to accommodate more people, expansion of avenues to accommodate traffic and even the redesigning of some city sections in order to improve on their security feasibility.
In all aspects of the organization as presented by Morgan, it seems to take a similar path of development as the city. Organizations that can learn are shown as to posses the ability to process information and choose between progressive and non-progressive values and cultures. In Mumford‘s ‘the city in history’, the city is seen as to be on an evolutionary path with it abandoning some cultures. The dehumanized city for instance, portrayed peculiar characteristics such as the gladiator duels. With the fall of the ancient Roman Empire, the tradition which was seen by many as inhumane and disgusting, failed to appear in subsequent city formations after it. The views Morgan and Mumford take on both the development of the city and the organization are strikingly similar with only the scale of their application varying.
