An organisation

An organisation (or organization – see spelling differences) is a social entity that has a collective goal and is linked to an external environment. The word is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon which means "organ" – a compartment for a particular task.


There are a variety of legal types of organisations, including corporations, governments, non-governmental organisations, international organisations, armed forces, charities, not-for-profit corporations, partnerships, co-operatives, and universities. A hybrid organisation is a body that operates in both the public sector and the private sector simultaneously, fulfilling public duties and developing commercial market activities.
In the social sciences, organisations are the object of analysis for a number of disciplines, such as sociology, economics,[1] political science, psychology, management, and organisational communication. The broader analysis of organisations is commonly referred to as organisational structure, organisational studies, organisational behaviour, or organisation analysis. A number of different perspectives exist, some of which are compatible:

From a process-related perspective, an organisation is viewed as an entity is being (re-)organized, and the focus is on the organisation as a set of tasks or actions.

From a functional perspective, the focus is on how entities like businesses or state authorities are used.

From an institutional perspective, an organisation is viewed as a purposeful structure within a social context.