Adaptive relationships are key to understanding organizations as systems...

There are three adaptive relationships which determine the long term survival of any form of enterprise:

  1. The relationship between the individual and the values and expectations that come from society and their life experience.
  2. The relationship between the work of the individual and their contribution to the product or service which the organization produces.
  3. The relationship between the enterprise and its environment.

When these relationships are aligned in the same direction you have an effective, flexible and adaptive organization. When they are not aligned or ignored they produce decreased productivity, quality, commitment to work, and apathy and cynicism. The flavor of the month and buzzword management is the result of ignoring these relationships.

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