Various theories in management take the view that organisations are in a constant struggle with the environment. This essay will examine three theories in seeking to determine whether this widely held view is demonstrated in these theories. It will examine population ecology theory, systems theory, and contingency theory, firstly defining what each is and then second relating the various theories to the environment.
             Population ecology takes the view that the environment is dominant, and organisations are in a constant struggle with it. Population ecology builds on Darwin's theory that allows for the variation, selection, retention, and modification of species of organisations. This theory assumes the environment is determining, environmental resources are limited, and competition is inevitable. Charles Darwin's nineteenth century writings have become synonomous with this theory. His writings emphasise the survival of the fittest and the demise of the weaker, with races getting stronger and leaving their weaker elements behind. Because of the fact that resources are 'non-renewable', organisations remain in constant state of struggle both with the environment and with other organisations. Survival is assumed to be the main, all-important organisation goal. This ignores the fact that certain organisations, such as ASH or the Red Cross, would in fact like to die if they were able to. Thus under this theory the environment is the '... critical indicator in determining which organisations succeed and which fail, selecting the most robust competitors through elimination of the weaker ones. (Morgan, 1986). Because of the critical assumption that the environment is determining, population ecology has been described at too deterministic, one sided, and not applicable to certain organisations. However, it still is an important theory in organisation theory that demonstrates how organisations are in conflict and strug...