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If we now reintroduce the conception of the complex organization as an open system subject to criteria of rationality, we are in a position to speculate about some dynamic properties of organizations.

— James D. Thompson

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More quotes by James D. Thompson

Under norms of rationality, organizations seek to seal off their core technologies from environmental influences.

Under norms of rationality, organizations seek to buffer environmental influences by surrounding their technical cores with input and output components.

Under norms of rationality, organizations seek to smooth out input and output transactions.

Under norms of rationality, organizations seek to anticipate and adapt to environmental changes which cannot be buffered or leveled.

Organizations under norms of rationality seek to place their boundaries around those activities which if left to the task environment would be crucial contingencies.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: James D. Thompson (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.