An organizing principle is a core assumption from which everything else by proximity can derive a classification or a value. It is like a central reference point that allows all other objects to be located, often used in a

conceptual framework A conceptual framework is an analytical tool with several variations and contexts. It can be applied in different categories of work where an overall picture is needed. It is used to make conceptual distinctions and organize ideas. Strong concept ...

. Having an organizing principle might help one simplify and get a handle on a particularly complicated domain or phenomenon. On the other hand, it might create a deceptive prism that colors one's judgment.

Examples

* In a

Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution, often stylized as Brookings, is an American think tank that conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics (and tax policy), metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, global econo ...

article, James Steinberg describes how

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to co ...

has become the organizing principle of U.S. national security. * The idea of the

Solar System The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Sola ...

is based on the organizing principle that the Sun is located at a central point, and all planets revolve around it. * Most modern cities are based on the organizing principle of the Grid plan in order to better manage transportation and addressing. * Most religions can be described by social scientists as built around an organizing principle that allows for the sustainable or improvable

recursion Recursion occurs when the definition of a concept or process depends on a simpler or previous version of itself. Recursion is used in a variety of disciplines ranging from linguistics to logic. The most common application of recursion is in m ...

of a unique population. * Organizations can be constructed around a set of organizing principles, such as concepts, priorities, or goals. For example, an organization may intend to be innovative, international, quality and agile. * The central organising principle of the

Welsh Government The Welsh Government ( ) is the Executive (government), executive arm of the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of Cabinet secretary, cabinet secretaries and Minister of State, ministers. It is led by the F ...

sustainability Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...

. * Legitimation code theory is an explanatory framework in the sociology of knowledge and education that seeks to understand different social fields of practices in terms of their organizing principles, which determines the basis of success and failure. *The organizing principle of the aphorism " as above, so below" is based on man's primordial sense of up and down and that this sense is a result of the symmetries in nature. * Theism holds that there is a cause for things that are evidently effects or passive to a force or action and that this involves a vital force that produces effects that demonstrate design and concordance.

References

Principles Strategy Organization {{sociology-stub

Examples

See also

References