The Organizational Landscape
Organizations can be categorized based on their fundamental approach to business, competition, and collaboration. Understanding these categories helps us navigate and evolve our business practices.
Four Categories of Organizations
From Dark Age practices to future-oriented mindsets
"I must have!"
The Dark Age Survivors
Some organizations are still in the 'Dark Age' of business, where you must win over the competition, be tough, strong, and show your muscles. These are the 'Get' category organizations. They imagine that Halloween is all year round and they're still scary for all of us when they yell out loud 'Give me!'
Core Philosophy
Aggressive 'I Win, You Lose' mentality. These organizations focus on dominating the competition and taking market share at any cost.
"Win-Win"
The Partnership Builders
Luckily, there are others as well, with a different philosophy the win-win type of organizations, the 'Traders', as I call them. Today, a lot of companies are in this category and as long as they do not forget to create a real partnership within the businesses they run and to listen to each other, everything is OK.
Core Philosophy
Win-win partnerships where both parties benefit. These organizations understand the value of collaboration and mutual success.
"Together Better"
The Future-Oriented Innovators
I believe there is a third type of organization, very rare, slowly growing among the 'Traders' and the 'Getters' the one I call 'Sharing'. In this organization the win-win is still valid but the method of achieving it is different. The main difference is the respect for the resources and the scale they apply the win-win philosophy.
Core Philosophy
Deep respect for resources and long-term sustainability. These organizations actively support others to become better together while breaking traditional barriers.
The Sharing Organization
A rare but growing category
Somehow they understand that looking only into the mirror they will not discover new things every day. They accept to open their universe and actively support others to become better together. Another main difference is the social implication. This organization 'cares' about the place they live in.
Respect for Resources
Understanding that resources are finite and must be used wisely for long-term sustainability
Community Involvement
Actively involving the community and striving to become active, responsible members
Barrier-Breaking Innovation
These are the innovators breaking traditional barriers, thinking to facilitate the best use of resources over the very long term
Long-Term Vision
Planning and acting with consideration for future generations and lasting impact
The Fundamental Shift Required
All these organizations (Getters, Traders, Sharers) are still motivated by the 'I have' mindset. To move on we will need a fundamental change:
From macro level thinking to micro acting, from organization back to the individuals
The Becomers
The Next Evolution
I call them 'The Becomers' and I did not meet yet one. These organizations would focus not on what they have, but on what they are becoming a fundamental shift from possession to transformation, from organizational structures to individual empowerment.
The Journey Forward
The evolution from 'Getters' to 'Traders' to 'Sharers' and ultimately to 'Becomers' represents not just organizational change, but a fundamental transformation in how we approach business, resources, and our role in society. The question is not which category your organization belongs to today, but where you're heading tomorrow.
