Maturation and Life in Organizations

Abstract

The paper attempts to integrate issues of organization culture, control and indi vidual psychological development. The notion of 'maturation' is used to mon itor the way in which individuals confront the forces of organization control. Such forces are understood as those stemming from the 'organization society', producing the likes of 'mass' and 'organization man'. Maturation is viewed as emerging throughout the life process and can be encouraged or retarded at any moment resulting in a loss of unity and direction for an individual. The implications for experience in organizations are reviewed.