The human in the organization turning from a gear into the machine itself

Over historical time, what mythos and ethos created as “Homo Credo” has transformed into “Homo Rationalis.” Rationalism, and as a result modernist approaches, requiring events to be explained by a rational method supported by independent observations-based on Newtonian physics. This view also shaped the mechanical worldview in social sciences. Activities within organizations followed a logical process within this mechanical worldview. Although this logical process did increase production, it caused humans, as a production factor, to be seen as parts of machines. With technological development, increased competition, accelerated innovations, and dynamics facilitating rapid dissemination of knowledge, this mechanical structure has transformed into an organic one. Because mechanical organizational structures and Newtonian paradigms cannot solve current problems. Attempts have been made to address current issues using quantum physics paradigms. Through quantum theory, one transcends pure reason, and within theory the rational-decision-making human in mechanical organizations has turned into an irrational human. From the perspective of Newtonian physics, the individual within a mechanical organization is viewed as a production factor, a gear in the machine focused on how to produce more. However, even a century later, it appears that the same problems persist for the irrational human shaped by quantum theory. Efforts to push the individual laborer to work more-through flexible work systems and the necessity of keeping up with technological advances-give rise to an objectified human who has literally become the machine itself. This objectified human is made dependent on technology-and therefore on the machine-and is alienated.