# Structure–organization–process ## Links (Wikipedia order) <!-- injected from _registry/childlinks/Structure–organization–process.json (2026-07-30T02:09:12Z) --> [[Autopoiesis]] · `Complexity_theory_and_organizations` · [[Francisco_Varela]] · `Fritjof_Capra` · [[Gregory_Bateson]] · [[Humberto_Maturana]] · `Ideology` · `Social_change` · `Social_structure` · `Structure_and_agency` > Summary stub · part of Systems Thinking · [Wikipedia source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure%E2%80%93organization%E2%80%93process) ## Summary In The Tree of Knowledge (1987:47), [[Humberto_Maturana|Humberto Maturana]] and [[Francisco_Varela|Francisco Varela]] set out a way of describing the nature of living things: “… [An] organization denotes those relations that must exist among components of a [[System|system]] for it to be a member of a specific class. [[Structure]] denotes the components and relations that actually constitute a particular unity [or thing]…” While Maturana and Varela (1987:28) do not pursue a specific discussion about process, they set out to understand the role of cognition as “… the universal nature of doing”. Maturana and Varela are seeking to understand what they term [[Autopoiesis|autopoiesis]], how living things self–produce. Maturana and Varela (1987:47) claim: “… by realizing what characterizes living beings in their autopoietic organization, we can unify a whole lot of empirical data about their biochemistry and cellular functioning”. ## Key points - In The Tree of Knowledge (1987:47), Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela set out a way of describing the nature of living things: “… [An] organization denotes those relations that must exist among components of a system for it to be a member of a specific class. - Structure denotes the components and relations that actually constitute a particular unity [or thing]…” While Maturana and Varela (1987:28) do not pursue a specific discussion about process, they set out to understand the role of cognition as “… the universal nature of doing”. - Maturana and Varela are seeking to understand what they term autopoiesis, how living things self–produce. - Maturana and Varela (1987:47) claim: “… by realizing what characterizes living beings in their autopoietic organization, we can unify a whole lot of empirical data about their biochemistry and cellular functioning”. ## Relation to Systems Thinking Structure–organization–process sits within the Systems Thinking cluster of related concepts. Its principles contribute to understanding [[Feedback|feedback]], [[Emergence|emergence]], and dynamic behavior in complex adaptive systems. ## Sources - [Structure–organization–process — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure%E2%80%93organization%E2%80%93process) Back to Systems Thinking --- <!-- SEMIOTIC-PROFILE:START --> ## Semiotic profile > *The semiotic universals this article invokes, machine-derived from the crossref — **unverified** (born so). Populated 2026-07-06 for the Systems room.* **Universals (4):** 🟡 system (10) · 🟡 structure (8) · 🟢 emergence (2) · 🟢 feedback (2) **Enter by sign:** Systems Semiotic Gateway · Alphabetum · Icon Registry · ← Systems Portal <!-- SEMIOTIC-PROFILE:END --> ## Wikipedia : Wikitube **Strict pair:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure–organization–process) : [Wikitube](https://en.wikitube.io/wiki/Structure–organization–process) ## Previous hub tags Tree parent: [[Systems_theory]]. Legacy hubs: none. --- *Sources: 1 legacy note. Minted wave 1, 2026-07-30 (v1.6 order).*