Per Christensen

The Ecological Perspective; A Vital Contribution to Corporate Practice and Development?

This article proposes that taking onboard ecologial thinking and perspectives is highly relevant when considering corporate and business practices and development.

"That which is not good for the beehive, is not good for the bee." Marcus Aurelius

During the past years, management literature has described many success stories and provided success prescriptions and guidelines for decision makers. In this manner, market demand for pragmatic aids has been met. But all prescriptions and tools have their limitations. Contemporary challenges also require sound theoretical understanding on the part of decision makers. Rash decisions taken in the heat of the moment, based on immediate pressing needs and visible factors, will increasingly be seen as incorrect decisions. It is precisely this, which ecologists more clearly than any others have proved.

Let us take an example: In order to increase the stock in fishing waters we can add fertiliser. The fertiliser acts as fodder and increases the stock. Yet only by recognising the wider implications within the system, can we avoid the catastrophe that lurks within the improvement: Over-fertilisation results in the flourishing of algae and animal plankton. The decomposition of organic material consumes oxygen, and the increase in stock can ultimately result in death of the fish.

The development of insecticides that could have solved a serious problem was seemingly a harmless one. In the very solution, however, lay the potential for an even larger problem. The role of insects in the spreading of pollen, as a control for insect pests, and as nutrition for birds had been overlooked.

Short-term solutions can have detrimental effects in many contexts. A current example from business: A drop in turnover results in redundancies. When turnover increases, people are recruited. There are many examples, which illustrate that this is a loss-making strategy. The drop in turnover may be a result of poor service. The redundancies may lead to even poorer service, with a loss of customers resulting in a further drop in turnover. The savings made through redundancies are absorbed by the cost of recruitment and training when good times return (provided the company is still in existence).

Numerous metaphors have been used to understand organisations and organisational development. An organisation has been compared to a machine - the individual employee a cog in the machinery. Organisations have also been compared to organisms, the latter marking a break with the mechanical world-view. Organisations have been compared to societies, where the struggle between different levels has been reflected. Organisations have also been regarded as football teams where it is necessary to develop constructive teamwork in order to score goals. Organisations have been compared to families, where family unity should be encouraged, and where the company should be a good home ('The Corporate Home').

We suggest the ecological system as a basis for a theory of organisations and organisational change. We believe this opens the door to a number of hypotheses in situations where one faces the need for change. Ecology and the ecological system have, however, an even broader significance for business:

Firstly, in the understanding that environment-conservation is on the agenda of all serious businesses in the world. Reduced energy consumption, lower pollution levels and the highest possible degree of re-circulation of products and scrap is a moral imperative - and is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage.

Secondly, ecological theory has implications for the human aspects of the working environment we create in organisations. Ecology describes the relationship between living organisms and their environment. We can therefore justifiably discuss ecology in relation to workplace design, ecology in relation to the manner in which work is organised, and ecology in relation to the psycho-social environment within the organisation.

Thirdly, environment is now the fastest growing area of investment in the world. 'Green technology', waste treatment and recycling are creating substantial opportunities for profit.

Fourthly, as in all other contexts, it is imperative that we develop an understanding of ecology in the field of business. Finding applications for ecological thought in all possible spheres of life is a task in itself; a further reason for choosing the ecosystem as the main metaphor for organisations.

Excerpt of eBook - Organisational Ecology and Resistance to ChangeBy Per A ChristensenChristensen eBooks

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