Gareth Morgan's Metaphors of Organizations and their relevance to different organizations

This discussion forum focuses on Gareth Morgan's eight metaphors of organizations and how they relate to different organizations. The discussions cover topics such as leadership skills, personal environment, and workplace scenarios. The participants provide examples and assertive statements to make the relationship between the metaphors and organizations clearer. The journal entry reflects on the knowledge gained during the process and the recommendations made for improvement.

Leadership and Managing Teams

Initial Post No. 1
Gareth Morgan’s Metaphors of Organizations provides with effective information regarding the
running of an organization smoothly. A particular organization possesses certain set of rules
which should be followed by the managing team. The eight metaphors stated by Gareth Morgan
is that the comparison of the organization with a machine, an organism, with a brain, culture,
political system, as a system of flux and change and as an instrument of domination. It is highly
appropriate for the organizational theory because it provides with the required knowledge about
an organization. It lays down the correct procedure to enhance the flow of the smooth working of
the organization. The organization possesses several parts and each part is compared with a
subtle example. The leadership skills are very essential for an organization. In this way a path
can be followed under the guidance of an able person (Mullins, 2011, Management &
Organizational Behavior).
The XYZ organization consists of a brain that is the management team, which functions the
system. It’s like a machine because it works to reach its targets and gain profits. It is an organism
because it has a fixed life and follows a certain set of rules like a culture. There is leadership and
political norms, strategies in an organization to enable the smooth working of it.
Thus, XYZ organization possesses the above metaphors of Gareth Morgan.
Reply Discussion No. 2
The organization runs smoothly at par with Gareth Morgan’s metaphors relating to organization.
There is a good understanding upon the organism and brain metaphor in relation to the budget
and how it is beneficial for an organization to function. Planning a budget could help in the
effective functioning of the company.. There is provision of good information regarding the
health and the security of the organization (Tsoukas, 1993, 14(3), pp 323-346).
Initially, the organism metaphor contributes towards the implementation of a financial statement
suitable for the budget. These mechanisms can affect the environment and procedures of the
organization. Fixing a budget helps in the proper planning of the targeted and the staff knows
where their current position is (Steers, 1981, Introduction to organizational behavior, 11(2)).

I think about the brain metaphor in a similar manner. Laying emphasis upon such a metaphor
could be essential in the overall improvement of the organization. All the operating systems
come under this arena binding the management and the staff together with each other. The
organization must be flexible in its approach. All the alterations for the benefit of the
organization is required to be adopted. An example relating to the Health, Security and Extreme
climate requires the above metaphors in its functioning process.
Reply Discussion No. 3
There is a clear concept upon the physic prison and political metaphors relating to organizations
by Gareth Morgan in this discussion. The organization is Bibby Distribution. When the
organization cannot perform to the fullest or is unable to reach its targets there are no profits.
Steadily, there leads to a decrease in the overall productivity of the business. To deal with such a
situation a good guidance and stable legislation is important (Colquitt et al., 2011, 3(9), pp 121 –
123, 167 - 169).
In order to bring in the positive and actual environment suitable for working, the legislation must
implement in an effective way. The disputes often arise between the staff and the management.
These disputes have to be resolved for the benefit of the organization and to ensure its smooth
functioning in the competitive market arena. All other demerits in the organization must be
scooped out of the system.
In my opinion, the metaphors are correctly applied for the improvement of Bibby. The psychic
prison metaphor by Gareth Morgan ensures that every dispute is resolved, negativities
investigated and support the facts with defence and evidence. The conception that every
metaphor is important is true (Cleary & Packard, 1992, 17(3), pp 229-241, The use of metaphors
in organizational assessment and change).
Reply Discussion No. 4
The views of Gareth Morgan with regard to the organization functioning has been provided in a
lucid way by choosing the right points. There is a clear idea about the metaphors related to
machine, culture and as a system of flux and change in a hospital organization. Assertive
statements have been written in a clear way laying stress upon the alterations and the machine

mechanism of the organization. The metaphors have a pivotal position to deal with in the
organizations and their effective functioning (Griffin & Moorhead, 2011, Organizational
Behavior, Chapter 4).
Being a hospital organization, it is important they everything used in it should be up to date and
also up to the mark so that the patients get a quality service. Similarly, a machine needs a regular
check with the latest upgradation for its proper functioning. Both have to be maintained regularly
and properly. Comparing the hospital organization with the machine metaphor provides a good
understanding, I find (Kelso, 1997, Dynamic Patterns, pages 440 to 442).
Since the hospital aims at serving the people and curing the diseased it possesses a social and
moral duty to function well for the betterment of the society. The hospital organization should
have high adaptability. It should be flexible in all spheres to adapt the latest updates and
advancements in every field. This enables the metaphor as a system of flux and change to be
highly effective.
Reply Discussion No. 5
The organization discussed here is a customer service organization. This is related to Gareth
Morgan’s three metaphors namely: organization as machine, organism and alteration and flux. A
good comparison of the metaphors and why they would be appropriate for this organization is
given. Since it is a customer service organization, the alterations, machine and organism hold a
pivotal position. Certain examples are stated for a better understanding of the concept in a lucid
way (Morgan, 1983, More on Metaphor, 28(4), pp 601-607).
Being a customer service organization, many employees are required to fulfill the purpose of the
scenario. It is expected from the staff that they should work together in coordination with each
other. This system ensures that all the disputes are avoided and they are resolved in a quick and
easy manner. (Morgan, 2011, Organization & Environment, 24(4), pp 459-478).
With evolution of time, alterations are constant. In order to suit the basic needs and also to
improve the strategies of the organization the customer service organization should be at par with
those methods. The metaphors provide with the correct examples and circumstances which such

organization has to deal with. Since it deals with the provision of service to the customers the
metaphors have the appropriate link with each other.
Reply Discussion No. 6
The organization relates to a hospital. I learnt that there are assertive statements and facts
included in it, about the metaphors relating to machine, organism and the political procedure. It
is essential for a hospital organization to harp upon organism and machine metaphor. The
political procedure can also be very helpful in the backdrop of organizational prosperity (Oswick
& Jones, 2006, Academy of Management Review, 31(2), pp 483-485).
In my opinion, in a hospital there are plenty of departments which deal with different fields of
study and treatment. The comparison with the machine is apt because unless all departments
work efficiently, the hospital cannot achieve success on an entire basis. The coordination and
monitoring of the departments is to be checked regularly (Morgeson et al., 2013, Personnel
Psychology, 66(4), pp 805-824).
However, the brain metaphor could also be added in the hospital organization apart from the
others. In this way, the right minds, ideas and thinking is necessary for the functioning of the
hospital agency in an efficient manner. Otherwise the above metaphors provide with a good link
with the hospital organization efficiently. All the needs are fulfilled with and the conflicts can be
easily resolved arising from the political backgrounds.
Summary of Discussion forum No. 7
After having a look on the discussions with regard to Gareth Morgan’s metaphor, I possess a
sound knowledge about the metaphors relating to an organization. It is clear from the answers
that I can match the organization with the true meanings of the metaphors. Some answers were
provided with good reference. This in turn has helped me to have a sound understanding upon
the subject. To add to this, there were examples to make the relationship clearer. Almost all the
answers have failed to include all the eight metaphors stated by Gareth Morgan. They have only
included those, which are related to their respective organizations. Another deficiency seen in the

answers were that I did not complete and they were not written in a satisfactory manner. There
was an absence of an introductory part in the organization. There was also no conclusion in them
(Sackmann, 1989, Human Relations, 42(6), pp 463-485).
There have been various recommendations made for the students to improve their answers.
Under the recommendations, I have provided with many ways for an overall improvement and
for the provision of satisfactory answers. For example, the addition of a conclusion and
introduction would make the answers complete. Hence, following the recommendations given in
every answer would help in the improvement (Smircich, 1983, Administrative Science Quarterly,
pp 339-358).
Journal Entry
After participating in the discussion with regard to the metaphors stated by Gareth Morgan, I
have learnt valuable information and gained adequate knowledge about the topic. Initially, I
came to what were the metaphors of Gareth Morgan. They were eight in number. I understood
their inner meanings and how they were related to different organizations. In the assignment, we
were given to write about the relation between the organization with the metaphors. Every
organization possessed different characteristics. Each of such characteristic were related to the
metaphors. I have understood how each metaphor has a relation with the organization. I have
also gained knowledge about the leadership skills in a company. Leadership and proper guidance
are essential tenets in an organization and to enable it’s smooth functioning. Hence, it is
important that the organizations have a good leader who would show them the correct path of
success.
Moreover, I have understood about the personal environment of the organizations and how the
management has a relation with the staff and their behavior towards the organizational
development. The scenario of the workplace has also been understood by me in this project. I
have understood how each metaphor, for instance, the metaphor including organization as a
machine or change of a flux or an organism, or as a culture or as a brain or a psychic position or
political strategies has a relation with the environment of the workplace. These metaphors also
deal with the latest development programs in the contemporary era. The teachers have provided

with ample knowledge about the current topic. My peer group has also coordinated well with me
in this learning procedure.
Thus, in this journal I have entered all the information and knowledge that I have gained during
this process. I can now write more answers which would be complete and satisfactory to read.
References
Cleary, C. and Packard, T., 1992. The use of metaphors in organizational assessment and change.
Group & Organization Management, 17(3), pp.229-241.
Colquitt, J., Lepine, J.A., Wesson, M.J. and Gellatly, I.R., 2011. Organizational behavior:
Improving performance and commitment in the workplace. McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Griffin, R. and Moorhead, G., 2011. Organizational behavior. Nelson Education.
Kelso, J.S., 1997. Dynamic patterns: The self-organization of brain and behavior. MIT press.
Mullins, L. J. 2016 Management and Organizational Behavior 11th edition
Morgan, G., 2011. Reflections on images of organization and its implications for organization
and environment. Organization & Environment, 24(4), pp.459-478.
Morgeson, F.P., Aguinis, H., Waldman, D.A. and Siegel, D.S., 2013. Extending corporate social
responsibility research to the human resource management and organizational behavior domains:
A look to the future. Personnel Psychology, 66(4), pp.805-824.
Oswick, C. and Jones, P., 2006. Beyond correspondence? Metaphor in organization theory.
Academy of Management Review, 31(2), pp.483-485.
Sackmann, S., 1989. The role of metaphors in organization transformation. Human relations,
42(6), pp.463-485.
Smircich, L., 1983. Concepts of culture and organizational analysis. Administrative science
quarterly, pp.339-358.

Steers, R.M., 1981. Introduction to organizational behavior. Goodyear Publishing Company.
Tsoukas, H., 1993. Analogical reasoning and knowledge generation in organization theory.
Organization studies, 14(3), pp.323-346.