Yes, unfortunately organizations like business have the option of resort to the coercive power of the state to try to alter the environment instead altering themselves.

I am reminded of the far side cartoon where a scientist is mugged by the contents of a petri dish holding a gun.

Only if effective feedback mechanisms exist, which is not always the case.

Similar “behavior” shows up in multicellular organisms as well. Parthnogenic species revert to sexual reproduction when stressed. Sexually reproducing species will seek to mate with others outside their normal range.

Clearly, organisms respond to stress by trying to genetically innovate their way out of the problem. The same principle probably applies to organizations as well.

It would seem that organizations follow the same rules. Without significant outside pressure from competition organizations stop evolving. Innovation and change are risky. Why run the risk unless you don’t have to?

Organizations, like organisms, seek firstly to survive. Evolution or innovation are means to that end and not goals in and of themselves. If survival can be assured by suppressing competition and remaining static both organizations and organisms will do so.