Yet the main cause of the collapse is that the corporation -- intrinsically a "gesellschaft" type of organization -- has made the mistake of trying to pass itself off as a "gemeinschaft" community.

The two types are inherently different in how they are organized and in their objectives. The "gemeinschaft" community arises spontaneously and naturally because of affinities among its members. Examples are the family, hobby clubs, and even the local community. As such, the primary "gemeinschaft" objective is to provide satisfaction for its constituent members. By contrast, the "gesellschaft" organization is formed and structured to attain external objectives, as embodied in the corporate mission.

Despite this, many companies are restructuring their function-centric organizations as communities, are settling into the complacency of small-town thinking (that they are among friends), and are assuming that this among-friends community coloration will shield them from the harsh winds of competition. Falling prey to this small-town thinking, they hen fall apart for lack of mission cohesiveness. Such companies have ost even the most basic mission awareness, and it is this forfeiture of anagement and  crporate ethic that is so worrying.

Let us hope the survivors wake up and reaffirm their corporate missions efore it is too late.

Taniguchi Masaru
Yokkaichi University