Homeostasis
From Greek 'homeo' (similar) + 'stasis' (standing still)
The maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions despite changing external conditions. The tendency of biological systems to resist change and maintain equilibrium.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 6 chapters:
"...the end, you'll understand what organisms are, how they work, and why organizations follow the same rules. The concepts introduced here - metabolism, homeostasis, growth mechanisms, symbiosis, selection, ecosystems - form the vocabulary for everything that follows. Book 2: Resource Dynamics How organisms ..."
"... immune system sees those markers, recognizes "not-self," and attacks. Immunosuppressive drugs work partly by dampening this recognition system. Homeostasis: The Active Maintenance of Internal Stability Now we get to one of the most important concepts in biology, one that most business books completely i..."
"... camel's metabolic strategy is: tolerate extreme fluctuations that would kill other organisms. It doesn't try to maintain stable internal conditions (homeostasis) as precisely as other mammals. Instead, it accepts wide variation to minimize metabolic costs. These three examples show that there's no single "ri..."
"...s that grew strategically survived. If companies are organisms - and as we established in Chapter 1, they function as living systems with membranes, homeostasis, and metabolism - then understanding how organisms actually grow becomes essential. Not metaphorically."
"...cterium, a finch, or a company. What we've established: - Cell theory → Organizational boundaries: Membranes control what enters and exits. Homeostasis maintains internal stability. Apoptosis kills parts for the good of the whole. - Metabolism → Resource management: Burn rate determines longevity..."
And 1 more chapter...
Biological Context
Your body maintains homeostasis in temperature (~37°C), blood pH (~7.4), blood sugar, and many other variables. Feedback mechanisms detect deviations and trigger corrective responses. Failure of homeostasis leads to disease or death.
Business Application
Organizations maintain homeostasis through budgets, performance reviews, and cultural norms that resist deviation from established patterns. This stability enables consistency but can prevent necessary adaptation.