It is nothing more than a shorthand expression for a particular set of practices that have been observed in a variety of dysfunctional organisations.

Q. You say it was a "dysfunctional organization."

"It's really a dysfunctional organization up there, and in nuclear power the quality of performance is very important to safety," Mr. Lanning said.

"It's difficult when you have a dysfunctional organization."

In particular, it is a mark of a dysfunctional organization to simply blame the last person who touched something.

The article describes situations that arise in dysfunctional organizations.

In its Yankees usage, the questionable corporate strategy of generating intense competition among employees to generate better results has created a dysfunctional organization.

A United Airlines executive called the company a "dysfunctional organization."

"The notion that the merger created a sickly, dysfunctional organization is just the opposite of what happened," he said.

If you walked into an office where nobody is having an oxytocin moment, then you'd know you're in a dysfunctional organization and it's time to get out of there.