"CONSIDERABLE attention has recently been devoted to understanding behavior in large organizational systems. Although some of this work has been based on research, it has more typically been general theorizing with little support from research data. Our interest in examining complex organizations is to study more systematically and empirically their internal functioning in relation to the demands of the external environment on the organization and the ability of the organization to cope effectively with these demands, contributing to a theory of the functioning of large organizations based on empirical research."
Paul Reynold Lawrence is an American government official, businessman, author and former U.S. Army officer who has served as the 11th United States deputy secretary of veterans affairs since 2025 under President Donald Trump. He previously served as the 7th under secretary of veterans affairs for benefits from 2018 to 2021.
"The state of segmentation of the organizational system into subsystems, each of which tends to develop particular attributes in relation to the requirements posed by its relevant external environment. Differentiation, as used here, includes the behavioral attributes of members of organizational subsystems."
"The act of segmenting the organization into departments would influence the behavior of organizational members in several ways. The members of each unit would become specialists in dealing with the particular tasks. Both because of their prior education and experience and because of the nature of their task, they would develop specialized working styles and mental processes."
"[Integration is defined as] the process of achieving unity of effort among the various subsystems in the accomplishment of the organizations task."
"Other things being equal, differentiation and integration are essentially antagonistic, and that one can be obtained only at the expense of the other."
"By integration we mean the process of achieving unity of effort among the various subsystems in the accomplishment of the organizations tasks."
"We humans are truly marvelous, adaptable creatures, products of an exciting and inspiring — even though often dangerous — evolutionary story, a story to be celebrated with conviction and enthusiasm even as we move on to new challenges."