When it comes to organizational behavior and development there are six fundamental needs an organization must fulfill on a consistent basis for it to survive and grow long term.
Stability - These are the needs of consistency, systems, structures, processes upon which and organization can rely. Examples here include accounting systems and reporting structures. Those things which provide an organization with certainty.
Flexibility - Ever changing environments, cultures, trends and challenges can strain even the most stable organization. It is therefore critical for an organization, and the individuals within, to remain flexible so that it, and they, can adapt to the changes and challenges. Examples here include making an exception to a customer service policy, providing flexible work schedules, ebb and flow of head count needs. Or just simply shaking things up from time to time.
Relationships - every business has the need to create and nurture strong relationships. With Clients/customers, vendors, partners, affiliates, leadership with staff, intra- and interdepartmental.
Significance - organizations, and individuals within organizations, have the need to feel like they are making an impact and have significance in the world. A "look at me!" mentality can serve an organization. Examples here include marketing, advertising and PR. This is also fulfilled within an organization through team significance and recognition.
Innovation & Development - While this need can certainly relate to basic R&D activities it also relates to the need an organization has to evolve and grow in maturity. An example here is a start-up business developing into a more mature business
Responsibility - an organization cannot survive long term without fulfilling the need for organizational responsibility. To it's members/employees, Clients/customers, community. This is the need of fulfilling a mission or broader promise versus strictly selling a product or service. Google executing on its "do no evil" promise (
http://investor.google.com/conduct.html) is an example here.
There is an inherent conflict between:
- Stability & Flexibility
- Significance & Relationships
However, these conflicts do not always result in challenges. Rather, they often serve as the necessary catalyst for growth.
So why does all this matter? Knowing the fundamentals, how they play out in organizations and understanding how each must be fulfilled can provide a leader with a great deal of insight as to avoid or solve problems and to use these dynamics for positive growth. While all organizations must fulfill each of the six needs on some level, an organization, and a team within an organization, has two needs that rise to the top and provide a driving direction. This will be discussed within the continuing series on the Six Fundamental Needs of and Organization.
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