Thus, a human, though potentially an open system may settle temporarily or permanently into a quasi-closed system state of affairs, a level of existence. While at a certain level the human would operate by principles particular to that level. He would have only the behavioral degrees of freedom afforded to him at that level. Yet, this same human, if certain releasor conditions occur, would cease to live by the principles of his previous level and would move to another quasi-closed system state of affairs, to living by another set of psychological principles. This movement could be toward a state of greater heterogeneity and complexity or it could be a movement without basic reorganization to the ultimate of a particular state.

The Australian Arunta, limited by the living conditions of his world has a low existential state. The behavioral choices he can make are very few. Yet remove him from the conditions of his existence, nurture him through the change and soon, the future choices at his disposal are markedly increased. He is, after removal, the same biological organism but he is a different psychological being. He has different needs, a different emotional life, a different perceptual life and - yes, - - - a different value system. He will even believe that he should be treated, that is managed, a different way. Look at the newly emancipated Negro. He believes that the previous methods used to control his behavior are no longer appropriate for him. He will now respond positively only to what he considers appropriate to his new state of psychological existence. And so things are hypothesized to be in the world of organizational life.

Within this basic conception of man, we can view the working human not as something to be managed by a set of, as yet to be discovered, general psychological principles but as one to be managed by the principles appropriate to his level of human existence. Management by controls not appropriate to his level will produce behavior contrary to organizational goals. Management by goals appropriate to his level of existence, positively directed toward the goals of the organization. And, within this conception we can look at other organizational problems related to the levels of human existence. We can look at existential levels in relation to creative innovation, conservation of traditional values, resolution of value conflicts, the transformation of institutional values, decision processes and other organizational problems.

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