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ZENODO
Article . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Article . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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ORGANIZATIONAL ANATOMY: A BIOLOGICAL METAPHOR FOR UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE IN MODERN FIRMS

Authors: KEHINDE Segun Isaac; BANKOLE Oluseun Ayodele;

ORGANIZATIONAL ANATOMY: A BIOLOGICAL METAPHOR FOR UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE IN MODERN FIRMS

Abstract

This review advances the idea of organizational anatomy as a biological metaphor for understanding how structure, internal functioning, and institutional health shape sustainable performance in modern firms. Viewing organizations as living systems—capable of growth, deterioration, adaptation, or dysfunction—provides a compelling framework for examining how structural design, communication pathways, and decision hierarchies influence effectiveness. This paper argues that just as biological organisms require healthy organs, coordination systems, and functional balance, organizations require coherent structures, healthy internal relationships, and responsive governance mechanisms. When misaligned, organizations experience “pathologies” such as inefficiency, strategic paralysis, role confusion, weak coordination, and declining performance. Conversely, structurally healthy organizations demonstrate clarity, adaptability, psychological safety, and sustained productivity. The review emphasizes that no single organizational design is universally optimal; effectiveness depends on contextual realities, organizational maturity, and environmental pressures

Keywords

Organizational health, Organizational structure, Organizational anatomy, Sustainable performance, Strategy alignment

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green