Organization Is: Definition, Characteristics, Purpose, and Principles

The organization is a part that has become one in a society consciously or unconsciously. Organizations will always be present as long as there are groups of people who live in a certain area or place.

An organization is formed because they want to achieve goals that need to be done together. To find out more about the meaning of organization, here is the explanation:

Definition of Organization

An organization is a group of individuals who share the same interests. According to James D. Mooney, an organization is a human association formed to achieve the same target or goal.

Another expert named Robbins (1994), defines the organization as a social unit that is united consciously through identified boundaries, working on a relatively consistent basis to achieve common goals within an organizational group. On the other hand, the notion of organization according to Hasibuan (2011), is a formal, structured and coordinated union system that originates from the cooperation of a group of people to achieve its goals.

An organization is formed because it has a goal to be achieved, each organization will have different goals or targets. As one example, the presence of a student organization will clearly have a different function from a non-profit organization.

Organizational Characteristics

To find out more clearly about what forms of human groups referred to as organizations, there are characteristics that give an idea of ​​the organization. Here are the characteristics of the organization that you should know:

1. A known group of people
2. Interrelated activities
3. Each member has a role or effort
4. Has authority, coordination and monitoring system
5. Have the same goal

Organization goals

An organization is formed because of the interests that each member has regarding something to achieve a common goal. Organizations cannot be arbitrarily formed just by relying on a number of masses, but it also needs to be taken into account regarding the objectives of forming an organization.

Basically the implementation of goals in an organization can be interpreted as a basis for how members will work together to achieve the same thing, where these goals will only be realized if done together.

Organizational goals become part of a process in which everyone involved will play a role and make the necessary contribution to the implementation of efficient and positive results.

Types of Organizations

As previously explained that every organization has its own goals. It also has an impact on how an Organizations form principles within their groups with interests and goals that may be different from other organizations.

The following is an explanation of the 5 organizational principles according to Henry Fayol:

• Division of work

An organization has a principle in the distribution of work tasks to individuals who are members of a group based on the consideration of the experience and expertise of each member.

The division of labor in the organization is carried out to achieve stability within the group, where everyone has the roles and responsibilities assigned to them. Through the division of labor, individuals within the organization can make their respective contributions in achieving common goals.

• Authority and Responsibility

Organizations have authority and also responsibilities given to each individual involved, these two things are key when an organization is formed. 

Through one's authority and responsibility will create a form of relationship in which related parties will have the power to give orders and receive orders. This will have an impact on how a person will be responsible for the status of power and the tasks assigned to him.

The higher or bigger a person's position, the greater the authority and responsibility that needs to be borne. Therefore, the organization requires the cooperation of all parties in its implementation.

• Discipline

Another principle that is owned in an organization is the attitude of discipline, where this attitude will affect the responsibility for the work that has been given to him.

Discipline can be seen from how someone tries to complete their assignments according to the deadline, how someone can be accountable for the results of his work, manners, readiness and so on.

• Unity of command

The organization also has the principle of unity of command, meaning that in an organization no more than one person can give orders. Every individual in the organization needs to know to whom he will explain, report and be responsible for the results of his work.

Unity of command is used to avoid abuse of authority and also to provide a fairer division of labor for each member. Another thing that is considered in the unity of commandments is to avoid conflicts between one another.

• Public interest

The organization has the principle that the public interest is above the personal interests of its members. The point is that each member must have the same goal and not only be concerned with his own gain. 

This is an explanation of the meaning of the organization to its principles. An organization essentially functions because there are similarities in goals to be achieved and will only be realized when all individuals work together. Hope this information helps.