What is an Organization?

Abstract

This definition of Barnard implies formal planning, division of labor and leadership. Organizations can also be thought as " social entities that are goal directed, deliberately structured activity systems with a permeable boundary " according to Bedeian and Zamnuto. There are a couple of things to be noted. If a couple of enthusiastic people plan and decide to help kids then they form an organization but, if a few people find a kid in trouble and helps the kid out (without conscious co-ordination and planning) then they don't form an organization. In Bedian and Zamnuto's definition, 'deliberately structured activity systems' basically means that the organizations are (on-purpose) structured so that it is possible to systematically divide complex tasks among multiple people or units to achieve a common purpose and 'permeable boundary' is a conceptual boundary (apart from the physical fencing) thet defines who/what is a part of an organization. This is also related to brand management.