Ch. 16 - Organizational Culture

Question 1

What is Culture?

Answer 1

It’s simply “the way we do things around here”. Because of shared, subconscious assumptions & tacit beliefs.

Question 2

Organizational culture refers to

Answer 2

a system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations.

Question 3

7 Characteristics of an Organization’s

Answer 3

1. Innovation and risk taking.
2. Attention to detail.
3. Outcome orientation
4. People orientation
5. Team orientation
6. Aggressiveness
7. Stability

Question 4

Most Organizations have a dominant

Answer 4

culture and numerous sets of subcultures.

Question 5

Subcultures tend to

Answer 5

develop in large organizations to reflect common problems, situations, or experiences that members face.

Question 6

Strong culture:

Answer 6

a culture in which the core values are intensely held and widely shared.

Question 7

Core values:

Answer 7

the primary or dominant values that are accepted throughout the organization.

Question 8

High formalization creates

Answer 8

predictability, orderliness, and consistency. (Lots of rules)

Question 9

Formalization and culture are

Answer 9

two different roads to a common destination.

Question 10

The stronger an organization’s culture, the

Answer 10

less management needs to develop formal rules and regulations.

Question 11

Team Spirit =

Answer 11

organizational climate

Question 12

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

Answer 12

All of them.

Question 13

Can a strong culture be a Liability?

Answer 13

• Institutionalization
• Barriers to Change
• Barriers to Diversity
• Barriers to Acquisitions and Mergers

Question 14

Creating and Sustaining a Culture:

Founders are ultimate source of…

Answer 14

culture creation.

Question 15

Creating and Sustaining a Culture:

Founders hire employees who…

Answer 15

feel the way they do.

Question 16

Creating and Sustaining a Culture:

Employees are

Answer 16

indoctrinated and socialized into the founders’ way of thinking.

Question 17

Creating and Sustaining a Culture:

Founders’ behaviors act as

Answer 17

role models

Question 18

A Socialization Model:

3 steps in the socialization process

Answer 18

1. Prearrival
   
   2. Encounter
   3. Metamorphosis

Question 19

3 outcomes in the Socialization process

Answer 19

1. Productivity
   
   2. Commitment
   3. turnover

Question 20

Culture is transmitted to employees through…

Answer 20

Stories, rituals, material symbols, and language.

Question 21

Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture:

High in…

Answer 21

risk tolerance

Question 22

Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture:

Low to moderate

Answer 22

in aggressiveness

Question 23

Creating an Ethical Organizational Culture:

focuses on

Answer 23

means as well as outcomes

Question 24

Creating a positive organizational culture:

building on

Answer 24

employee strengths

Question 25

Creating a positive organizational culture:

rewards more than

Answer 25

it punishes

Question 26

Creating a positive organizational culture:

emphasizes individual…

Answer 26

vitality and growth