3 things that companies can learn from the Mayan civilization

If you're like most people, the first time you heard about organizational structures was in a business class. But have you ever stopped to think about how these organizational structures evolved?

Humans are social creatures. We like to be around others and feel like we belong to a group. For millennia, humans have lived in small social groups composed mostly of genetically related individuals, which anthropologists call "kin groups".

In today's world, we may not live in small kin groups anymore, but we still crave social connection. Whether it's joining a book club or simply spending time with friends and family, we continue to seek out opportunities to interact with others.

Companies are one place we can find groups of like-minded individuals.

So, can companies learn anything organizational structure from human evolution?

How are human evolution and org structure related?

The advent of agriculture turned humans from a species living in nomadic hunter-gatherer kin-groups to a species that self-organized into larger civilizations with division of labor.?

Productivity gains from agriculture enabled some individuals to do things other than hunting or gathering. Ultimately, improvements in agricultural technologies enabled a single farmer to feed many people. As a result, only a small proportion of the population needed to produce food. The rest could focus on other components of life. This led to the rise of towns, and ultimately large cities that could sustain themselves agriculturally and economically.

In short, when people specialize in different tasks, this leads to increased efficiency and productivity.

In the modern workplace, companies often use a division of labor in order to make the most use of their employees' time and skills. For example, rather than having one person responsible for every aspect of a project, different people may be responsible for different parts. This can lead to increased efficiency and a higher quality product or service.

Organizational structure is a vital part of any company, but it can be difficult to get it right.

At the end of the day, companies are a type of social group.

By looking at human evolution, we can see that certain patterns are successful and lead to increased efficiency and productivity. By understanding these concepts and applying them to the modern workplace, companies can improve their chances of success.

The most successful civilization...and what it can teach us

When you think of ancient civilizations, the first things that probably come to mind are the Greeks, the Romans, and the Egyptians. But there's one civilization that's often overlooked, even though it lasted for 3,500 years: the Mayans.

The Maya were a Mesoamerican people who lived in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras from around 2000 BCE to 1500 CE. During that time, they created one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas, with impressive feats in art, architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. So how did they do it? Let's take a closer look.

Technology

One of the keys to the Maya's success was their mastery of agriculture. The Maya were expert farmers; they created sophisticated irrigation systems to water their crops, and they cultivated a wide variety of plants, including maize (corn), beans, squash, tomatoes, chili peppers, cocoa beans, and cotton. They also domesticated animals like turkeys and dogs. Not only did this provide them with enough food to support a large population, but it also allowed them to trade with other cultures for goods they couldn't produce themselves.

Culture

The Maya were also a very creative people. They developed their own form of hieroglyphic writing and created brilliant works of art in everything from ceramics to stone sculpture. They built massive cities (like Tikal and Copan) out of stone and adorned them with beautiful temples and pyramids. And they developed complex theories about the cosmos and created accurate calendars that could predict eclipses years in advance. This rich culture helped make the Maya one of the most powerful societies in Mesoamerica.

Political & Social Organization

Finally, the Maya were able to create such a successful civilization because of their political and social organization. They had a strict hierarchy (with kings at the top), which allowed them to efficiently manage their territories and resources. However, most of the population lived in independent states, each under the jurisdiction of a capitol city.

At the time of the Spanish invasion, half of the states were led by a single ruler while the other half were led by a council of nobles. Those with a single ruler still had a council of advisors that could limit his power. This organizational structure descended down to the village level as well. Each village had an appointed leader along with a council of officials.

What can companies learn from the Mayans

Technology is key. Without a significant technological advantage, it's hard to build a sustaining organization.

Culture matters more than you think. Give your people the freedom to co-create a culture that works for them.

Support leaders with a council of advisors. Without a single leader it's hard to make decisions, but make sure to limit their power with a council of advisors from different departments.