International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

The following five proposals by H. BOUCHIKHI result of his study of the process of introduction of personal computers in the "Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens" and are thus related to administrative structuration (1990, p.428-35).

It would be interesting to look for isomorphies in biological systems and in animal societies (See "stigmergy").

"1. Organizational structures are a set of rules and resources recursively engaged in the structuration of organizations

2. Organizational structures are simultaneously medium and result of the interactions among participants

3. Organizational structuration expresses a dialectic process of equilibrium between the organization and its environment

4. Organizational structures are closely linked to the cooperation and competition stakes of the participants

5 Organizational structuration results of a multitude of local processes not all necessarily convergent".

BOUCHIKHI makes different interesting points:

a) Organizational structures are not rigidly imposed "from above" (or should not be!)

b) Organizational structuration do not result in a static structure, achieved once and for all;

c) Being the product of a process, it proceeds dynamically, by progressive propagation

d) Organizational structuration is not necessarily a conscious process

e) Organizational structures are not abstract; they result of the permanent activity ofindividuals

The following comment in a not-related paper by M. BUNGE (1988, p.7) seems opportune: "Interestingly enough, cohesion turns out not to be proportional to overall participation. Instead, it is maximal for middling participation – which is reasonable, since nil participation is incompatible with communality, whereas the participation of everyone in everyone else's affairs results in anarchy".