chapter 8: social influence, socialization, and culture Flashcards
Organizational culture
consists of:
shared beliefs
values
assumptions
–> that exist in an organization
organizational culture is what defines the organization and it is what the company stands for
how are organization norms determined?
with the organization’s shared beliefs, values and assumptions
what do organization norms lead to regarding employees, management, customers, etc.
patterns of behavior
what are the fundamental characteristics of organizational culture?
It represents a true “way of life” for organizational members
its influence is often taken for granted
It tends to be fairly stable over time
once established, it can persist despite turnover among organizational members (providing social continuity)
Culture can have a strong impact on both organizational performance and member satisfaction
what are subcultures?
smaller cultures developed within a larger organizational culture
based on differences in training, occupation, or departmental goals
why do effective organizations develop an overarching culture?
to manage differences between subcultures
what is a strong culture?
an organizational culture with intense & pervasive beliefs, values, & assumptions
they are associated with greater success and effectiveness
what does a strong culture provide consensus about?
provides great consensus concerning “what the organization is about” or what it stands for
(think on Disney)
in which type of cultures are beliefs, values’ and assumptions less structured?
why?
in weak cultures
Weak cultures are fragmented and have less impact on organizational members
does an organization have to be big to have a strong culture?
nah boy
do strong cultures result in blind conformity?
nah boy
what are assets (advantages) of strong cultures?
coordination
conflict resolution
financial success
assets of strong cultures:
coordination
overarchingvalues & assumptions that facilitate the coordination of different parts of the organization
Different parts of the organization can learn from each other and can coordinate their efforts
trying to keep everybody in the loop
assets of strong cultures:
conflict resolution
sharing core valuesis a powerful mechanism that facilitate conflict resolution
assets of strong cultures:
financial success
strong cultures contribute to financial success
to do so, the culture supports the mission, strategy & goals of the organization
what are liabilities of strong cultures?
Resistance to change
Culture clash/conflict
Pathology
explain the culture clash/conflict asa liability of strong culture?
can mix badly when a merger or acquisition pushes two of them together under the same corporate banner
(you think you are right, so the other is wrong)
how can resistance to change be a liability?
can damage a firm’s ability to innovate
explain the concept of pathology as a strong culture liability
strong culture can sometimes support the following:
friction
secrecy
paranoia
what are two key factors that contribute to the foundation & continuation of organizational cultures?
The founder’s role
Socialization (learning by being around of the people)
The founder’s role in the foundation & continuation of organizational cultures
Strong cultures reflect the values of an organization’s founder
Top management strongly shapes an organization’s culture
what is a setback between a founder and management regarding the organizational culture?
Sometimes the culture begun by the founder can cause conflict when top management wishes to see an organization change direction
socialization in the foundation & continuation of organizational cultures
Socialization is one of the primary means by which individuals can learn the culture’s beliefs, values, & assumptions
Organizations with strong cultures go to great painsto expose employees to a careful, step-by-step socialization process
which are the socialization steps in strong cultures?
Step 1: Selecting Employees
Step 2: Debasement (undoing) & Hazing
Step 3: Training “in the Trenches”
Step 4: Reward and Promotion
Step 5: Exposure to Core Culture
Step 6: Reinforcing Folklore
Step 7: Role Models
what is it abouts the steps to develop a strong culture that make allow them to develop a strong culture?
the consistency among these steps & their mutually reinforcing properties
how can you learn about organizational culture?
examining the symbols, rituals, and stories that characterize the organization’s way of life
they reinforce the company’s culture
symbols
strong indicators or corporate culture
provide common meaningand reinforce cultural values
what the company considers important
ex: corporate motto or mascot
rituals
expressive events that define & build the culture
They send a cultural message & convey the essence of a culture
what are some examples of rituals
parties
recognition awards events
employee nights
Stories (folklore of organizations)
stories about past organizational events
a common aspect of culture
Stories & anecdotes are told repeatedly across generations of employees to communicate informally “how things work”
They reflect the uniqueness of organizational cultures
