The image of an organism, seeking to adapt and survive in a changing
environment, offers a powerful perspective for managers who want to
help their organizations flow with change. The metaphor helps us to
understand organizations as clusters of interconnected human,
business, and technical needs. It encourages us to learn about the art
of corporate survival. It urges us to develop vibrant organic systems
that remain open to new challenges.
The metaphor suggests that different environments favor different
species of organizations based on different methods of organizing, and
that congruence with the environment is the key to success. Certain
species are better adapted to specific environmental conditions than
others.