Physiology
Hormone
Chemical messengers produced by glands or cells that travel through the bloodstream to affect distant target cells. Hormones regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and many other functions.
Biological Context
Unlike neurotransmitters (local, fast), hormones act at a distance and have longer-lasting effects. Major hormones include insulin (glucose regulation), cortisol (stress response), testosterone/estrogen (reproduction), and growth hormone. Hormone imbalances cause widespread systemic effects.
Business Application
Corporate hormones are the signals from leadership that affect the entire organization—strategic directives, cultural messages, incentive structures. They act at a distance and have systemic effects on organizational behavior.