organization man

British  

noun

1. a person who subordinates his personal life to the demands of the organization he works for

2. a person who specializes in or is good at organization

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organization man ¹ Cultural  

1. Someone who subordinates his personal goals and wishes to the demands of the corporation or a similar large organization for which he works; a conformist. The term comes from the book The Organization Man, by William H. Whyte. (See also bureaucracy, bureaucrat, and conformity.)

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organization man ² Cultural  

1. Someone who represses individual desires and molds behavior to conform to the demands of the organization he or she works for. (See also bureaucracy, bureaucrat, and conformity; see also under “Business and Economics.”)

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Example Sentences

Both books entered mainstream discourse, with “the organization man” becoming part of everyday language.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the clubhouse, a Dodger organization man, Babe Hamburger, offered some counsel.

From New York Times

Lemann relates the transition from the organization man, made famous in the 1950s by William Whyte, to modern-day “transaction man,” and argues that this shift has not been healthy for American society.

From New York Times

They called off the manager search before it started, sticking with a consummate organization man who coached and managed in their farm system after starting as an amateur scout.

From New York Times

He has also been careful to avoid direct conflicts with other members of Mr. Trump’s Big Five leadership team, especially the ascendant Mr. Kushner, focusing instead on positioning himself as Mr. Trump’s indispensable organization man.

From New York Times