If we ponder on the fact of whether people shape an organization or an organization shapes people, the answer would be both. .
Birth on an organization begins when people create an organization and shape its mission and culture. Later the organization grows by adding more people to it. This new group of people adjust themselves within the existing organizational culture. Sometimes they also influence organizational culture by bringing new and unique skills to the organization. Sometimes they learn from each other and at other times, external forces like competition, political and cultural changes compel them to learn new technical, communication or interpersonal skills. All these internal and external factors help an organization and its people to evolve to cope with the ever-changing world. .
Until recently, managers paid little attention to Organizational Behavior, otherwise known as the interpersonal skills or soft skills. The industrial revolution of late 19th century and early 20th century, created an enormous demand for technical skills throughout the mid 20th century. Most of the work was in production line and people who worked there were not required to think or interact with each other to a greater extent. However, things changed during the later half of the 20th century. Instead of standing behind the production lines, people now sit in front of a computer and control a robot that works in the production line. Now, people not only need technical skills but also need skills to communicate and work within a group. .
The quote the English poet Samuel Butler, "Any fool can paint a picture, but it takes a wise man to be able to sell it." Looking at this in a modern perspective, the painter could be thought as a person who posses technical skills and the person who sells it as a person who posses the "interpersonal skills". The existence of each one of them is very much dependent on the other.