Leadership and organizational behavior: A thermodynamic inquiry.

Abstract

This study presents a detailed model of leadership and organizational structures that parallels well-known principles of thermodynamics as they are applied to states of matter. Four types of organizational structure are explored with an emphasis on hierarchical institutions in and with which consulting psychologists spend most of their time. The model describes 3 types of bonding forces based on parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system arousal and cognitive attributions of respect that parallel those in atomic and molecular physical systems and demonstrates conceptually how variations in their presence and strength create different organizational structures. The application of these forces by leaders, followers, and other stakeholders to the creation and maintenance of human hierarchies is explored in depth. Issues and challenges that the model presents for consulting and organizational psychology are discussed. It is suggested that if the model can be validated by additional research efforts, classical psychophysics may be extended to new domains and that mathematical principles may be developed that can be broadly tested and applied to aspects of leadership and organizational behavior as they have been historically for various social, physical, and chemical systems.