Ch. 16 - Organizational Culture Flashcards
Critical Chapters 9,10,12,16
What is Culture?
It’s simply “the way we do things around here”. Because of shared, subconscious assumptions & tacit beliefs.
Organizational culture refers to
a system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations.
7 Characteristics of an Organization’s
- Innovation and risk taking.
- Attention to detail.
- Outcome orientation
- People orientation
- Team orientation
- Aggressiveness
- Stability
Most Organizations have a dominant
culture and numerous sets of subcultures.
Subcultures tend to
develop in large organizations to reflect common problems, situations, or experiences that members face.
Strong culture:
a culture in which the core values are intensely held and widely shared.
Core values:
the primary or dominant values that are accepted throughout the organization.
High formalization creates
predictability, orderliness, and consistency. (Lots of rules)
Formalization and culture are
two different roads to a common destination.
The stronger an organization’s culture, the
less management needs to develop formal rules and regulations.
Team Spirit =
organizational climate
Culture’s Functions:
A. Boundary-defining role
B. Conveys a sense of identity for members
C. Facilitates the generation of commitment
D. Enhances the stability of the social system
E. Serves as a sense-making and control mechanism
F. Guides and shapes attitudes and behavior of employees
All of them.
Can a strong culture be a Liability?
- Institutionalization
- Barriers to Change
- Barriers to Diversity
- Barriers to Acquisitions and Mergers
Creating and Sustaining a Culture:
Founders are ultimate source of…
culture creation.
Creating and Sustaining a Culture:
Founders hire employees who…
feel the way they do.
Creating and Sustaining a Culture:
Employees are
indoctrinated and socialized into the founders’ way of thinking.
Creating and Sustaining a Culture:
Founders’ behaviors act as
role models
A Socialization Model:
3 steps in the socialization process
- Prearrival
- Encounter
- Metamorphosis
3 outcomes in the Socialization process
- Productivity
- Commitment
- turnover
Culture is transmitted to employees through…
Stories, rituals, material symbols, and language.
Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture:
High in…
risk tolerance
Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture:
Low to moderate
in aggressiveness
Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture:
focuses on
means as well as outcomes
Creating a positive organizational culture:
building on
employee strengths
Creating a positive organizational culture:
rewards more than
it punishes
Creating a positive organizational culture:
emphasizes individual…
vitality and growth