I think Whyte’s insight was that it’s not technology, or the organisation per se that is the demon but our worship of culture or structure or the corporation that is problematic.

Whyte was in the privileged position that he was paid for writing – earned his living by writing and being critical of institutions. The problem is we are not all so privileged – we have to earn our bread by being part of something bigger than ourselves – which brings obvious pressures to conform.

I don’t have the solution. Man is an individual and a social being. Both are true. It’s a false dichotomy to play the one off against the other. There are going to be tensions as I seek to live out my uniqueness and balance it with what seems it’s opposite – human relationships.

Jan

When you say “even if the corporation is no longer playing Nanny”, I take it you’re referring to the increased casualisation, outsourcing and unreliability – for the organizational man – of contemporary corporations?

I believe that Kurt Vonnegut’s first novel, Player Piano, is an excellent example of a work of art framed by the ideas surrounding the Organization Man. His depiction of corporate culture (especially the importance placed on uniformity, stability, and especially, belonging) was informed by the author’s stint at General Electric.

I would recommend this book heartily to anyone who has an interest in the kinds of topics covered on this site.