One of the main strengths of the metaphor stems from the emphasis placed on
understanding relations between organizations and their environments. The mechanical
theories explored in Chapter 2 more or less ignored the role of the environment, treating
organizations as relatively closed systems that could be designed as clearly defined structures
of parts. In contrast, the ideas considered in this chapter stress that organizations are open
systems and are best understood as ongoing processes rather than as collections of parts.
Using the image of an organism in constant exchange with the environment, we are
encouraged to take an open and flexible view of organization. We can recognize that so long
as key processes are functioning in an effective manner, everything may be going well.