An organization, also spelled organisation in Commonwealth English, is a social system that comprises all formal human relationships and is goal-oriented. It is an entity that can be a company, an institution, or an association, among others, and is made up of one or more people who work together towards a particular purpose. The word "organization" is derived from the Greek word "organon," which means tool or instrument.
Organizations are the object of analysis for a number of disciplines, such as sociology, economics, political science, psychology, management, and organizational communication. The broader analysis of organizations is commonly referred to as organizational structure, organizational studies, organizational behavior, or organization analysis.
Some key characteristics of organizations include:
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Hierarchy: Organizations possess some form of hierarchy and division of labor that separates them from groups of people who do not have a hierarchy or division of labor.
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Structure: Organizations have a structure that includes a hierarchy and division of labor.
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Goal-oriented: Organizations are goal-oriented and pursue defined objectives.
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Autonomy: Organizations can execute changes autonomously.
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Rules of action: Organizations have rules of action compared to outside events.
There are different types of organization structures, such as formal and informal organizations. Formal organizations have a defined structure and hierarchy, while informal organizations do not have a defined structure or hierarchy.
