Introduction
An organization is an organism especially in terms of the different operations and interactions that occur within and without the organization. The environment in an organization comprises all the living and non-living things that exist both internally and in the external environment of that organization. Just like living systems, organizations have internal sub-systems which work independently and collect timely information to keep there organization alive.
The military for instance is a sub set of the armed forces. The other elements of the armed forces are the marines and the air force. For the military to be efficient ,therefore, it has to succeed both as an independent system consisting of the army and navy, and as a part of the whole system of the armed forces. On the contrary, the orchestra as a whole system contains different parts. The success of the orchestras is, therefore, dependent on the success of each of these constituent parts.
Military and Orchestra
We need to study each of those different organizations in order rot solve the problems facing them. This is because the problems that face an organization are mostly due to its interaction with the environment both internally and externally. The military is faced with the p [problem of obsolescence of military equipment. Due to the fast changes in technology especially in the twenty first century, most military equipment is going obsolete at a very fast rate. To handle this problem, the military engages in a lot of study and research both biologically and technologically. This enables them to discover better weapons ahead of time.
Similarly, the orchestra is faced with such problems as the evolution of the music industry. These days, people do not have to go to concerts to experience the services of the orchestra. Instead, they stream the shows live on the internet. In addition, when they have to perform for a live audience, three orchestras has to do some splendid job as compared to other competitors in the market. The military has rules, policies and its specific way of doing its operations. There comes in the issue of chain of command right from the top to the bottom. Team leaders and their respective teams in which the heads especially lieutenants and captains have control ver. their team members. There is therefore the problem of disrespectful corps who has to be dealt with (Carnal, 2007).
Unless there is unity and harmony between the military and the other components of the armed forces, there definitely would be chaos all the time. This peaceful coexistence does not come easy and requires sacrifice and hard work. The orchestra is made up of different parts all of which work hand in hand to produce the sweet melody heard at their concerts. Most of these components do not have to go on stage. The board of directors for example is very vital in making important decisions for the orchestra. Deciding when and where to perform is a big problem that faces an orchestra. This may lead to wrangles and struggle for control of the orchestra (Carnal, 2007).
Then most importantly is the fact that an orchestra is composed of artists with different voices and singing ability. There is therefore a problem of deciding which voice to sing at what time. There also may be a problem in deciding who is to be the lead artist in the orchestra and this may bring about bad feelings in the other probably able members of the orchestra. For the military to acquire work force for the armed forces and protect their nation well, they require resources in terms of money. The only source could be the government and sometimes-budgetary allocations for military are not adequate to cater for its many needs. An orchestra also needs finances to pay workers and make profits as a firm. The main source of income is ticket sales and sale of their music which may not be enough especially due to file sharing and music piracy (Campbell, 1998).
There are many similarities between an orchestra and the military relative to their similarity to living systems. One is the integration of workforce. Force in both organizations. The military consists of the army and navy. Specialists from both forces have to work in harmony. They have to constantly upgrade their technical systems and get the best-qualified workforce in order to be efficient in their operations. Similarly, the orchestra has to combine harmoniously the efforts of each of the various components in order to be the best in their field.
The military has to be aware of the external environment in which it operates because it depends on it for peaceful co-existence. The environment is where it gets its labor force, technology and most importantly information on security. It also acquires food supplies, special expertise and finances from the external environment. The orchestra on that note also depends very much on the outside world for survival. It has to make ticket sales and do concerts and performances in order for it to survive.
However, these two organizations differ in that there is, only one military in a country that operates from only one source of command whilst there may be tens or even hundreds of orchestras in the same country each operating independently from the others. This makes an orchestra different from the military. TUIU as an organization contains various different departments that are put together to form the whole. It contains faculties and departments, which can be viewed as different organs of the university. The students in each department make up the cells of those organs. Put together, they all form the social unit called TUIU (Carnal, 2007).
In harmony therefore, this social system operates with a common goal and objective. Just like all other living organisms, TUIU interacts with other universities, the government and the public; including all the players in education, social and environmental matters. By studying organizations as organisms, one is best placed to understand an unfamiliar organization or institution. This is possible through understanding the interactions that occur between the composite parts of the organization and the interaction between the organization as a whole and the external environment. This will also enable one to appreciate the actions taken by the organization in response to things happening in the environment.
Conclusion
The study of organizations as organisms, I believe, is the root of Public relations- an Important issue for the success of any serious organization this century. In this era of social networks, websites, blogs and tabloids, a serious organization has to respond quickly and appropriately to any claims, rumors or allegations about it on the internet. This is very important to maintain a reputable image, defend its goodwill and survive in the ever dynamic and competitive world market.
References
Campbell, D. (1998). Organizations and Business Environment. Oxford: Legoprint.
Carnal, C. (2007). Managing Change in Organizations. Essex: Pearson Education.