Teilhard de Chardin (1953) suggested that as people slowly populated the earth and began to bump up against others of the same species, they had two options. They could continue moving about in a nomadic lifestyle and face ongoing conflict with other isolated, nomads. Alternatively, they could settle down and establish a cooperative relationship with a small group of other nomads and settle down in one spot. Riane Eisler (1987) suggested that this choice between invasion, domination, and ongoing conflict, on the one hand, and respect for boundaries, cooperation and stability, on the other hand, has been central in defining the character of all societies. This critical choice between domination and partnership is still being made every day in our corporations and governments.
Complexity
A second point on which virtually all social theorists and observers would agree is that organizations have tended to become more complex over the years. According to Durkheim, there is a tendency for societies to become more complex as they become larger, primarily because there is an increasing possibility of struggle and violence in a densely populated world, as compared to the more dispersed populated world of prehistoric times.
Durkheim believed that this increasing struggle and conflict creates the need for specialization of functions. If people can do different jobs, they will be less likely to compete with one another. We honor differences rather than defeating and banishing people who are different from us. We cooperate with others rather than compete with them when space and resources are limited on a densely populated planet. We provide specialized jobs and become dependent upon one another. This effort to reduce social tension, according to Durkheim, is the primary reason for division of labor and the development of complex organizations. He didn’t believe that organizations need to become more complex simply because they have grown larger.
