> The definition I use has four elements and goes something like this:
>
> An organization/society is (1) a collection of individuals who (2) [most of
> the time] occupy a particular physical space, (3) share some important aspect
> or aspects of a mental model, and (4) interact in ways consistent with that
> model.
>
> Marion Brady
Lots of groups that we conventionally recognize as organizations
never actually occupy a particular physical space. For example,
a professional society such as ASQC or the ACM -- you would never
expect all the members to be in the same place. In fact, many of
the operations of a professional society are quite decentralized
and don't even depend on "headquarters" to happen.
On a grander scale, I couldn't identify the "particular physical
space" of an international organization such as the Catholic Church.
So I wonder if (2) is really a useful criterion.
-- Rachel Silber rachel@ontos.com