Chapter 3

Question 1

What are the three definitions of Organizational Culture (S2)

Answer 1

1. OC as a constructed product.
2. OC as organic norms.
3. OC as a continual process of negotiation

Question 2

OC as a constructed product

Answer 2

Product of structures, systems and regulations, planned and imposed by the management

Question 3

OC as a set of organic norms

Answer 3

“How things are done around here”

Question 4

Think of a family run business in a rural neighborhood. It has been passed down for generations and all the employees are related. What type of organizational culture would they have?

Answer 4

Likely weak constructed product culture, a strong set of organic norms.

Question 5

OC as a continual process of negotiation

Answer 5

Management must work with members to create “shared meanings and aspirations”.

Question 6

How is the continual process of negotiation influenced?

Answer 6

1. General relationship between employees and organization
2. Vertical or hierarchical system of authority
3. General view of the org’s destiny by the employees

Question 7

What are the two axes of plotting the OC matrix?

Answer 7

Strong/weak and Positive/Negative OC

Question 8

What defines a strong OC?

Answer 8

A strong OC is cohesive, group members have the same values and beliefs.
Members can easily communicate between themselves.

Question 9

Three aspects of culture according to Hofstede

Answer 9

1. Particular to one group and not to others.
2. It is learned.
3. It makes behavior of group members predictable (within limits)

Question 10

Out of the four types of company culture, which is the worst?

Answer 10

Negative strong. Group is cohesive, working together to fight management?

Question 11

What is the flow of changing a culture?

Answer 11

Negative strong -> negative weak -> positive weak -> positive strong