The organizationals metaphors

Abstract

Besides the recognition, in this article, of the metaphor’s importance like organizations’ heuristic tools, our aim will be centered in the three metaphors analysis: the machine, the organism and the culture. Each one of these metaphors has an explanation of limited capacity. The organization complexity can’t be understood reporting only the rational and techmical dimension, as its happens, for instance, with the mechanical explanation. Otherwise it can’t also be circumscribed to its symbolic side, like in the culture case. The understanding of the organizational reality implies the interconnection of all these metaphors. Each them apprehend different aspects of the organization, giving rise to a variety of insights, always fruitful.