Dysfunctional Organizations

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Make some notes of what you expect in this chapter. Write down what you feel is a definition of a dysfunctional organization. Keep that definition in mind as you read this chapter.

Definition

What is a dysfunctional organization? One definition is that it is an organization that “works in a way that is not consistent with the goal it’s supposed to pursue” (Montgomery 2016). Yet, many others would argue that, in the case of a business firm, for example, the organization could be accomplishing its goal of making a profit but still be dysfunctional, in that it is a horrible place to work. Another definition focuses on too much communication and lack of trust (Thomas 2018). While another indicates that a dysfunctional organization ...