Culture Flashcards
Edgar Schein
Cultural anthropologist. Wrote corporate survival guide that says there are three levels of culture.
Three levels of culture
- Artifacts: Things that are easy to see in a company
Ex: rituals, physical marks, company uniform - Espoused Values: What people say is important within the company.
Ex: formal statement, mission statement, zappos all about customer - Underlying assumptions: unconsious, taken for granted beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings Important parts of culture are invisible, culture is deep, broad and stable
Ex: anti-discrimination policy
Digital Equipment Corporation
Schein advised for 25 years. “Maintaining centralized paternalistic control is essential” As the company grew trust among employees wasnt strong which conflicted with their previous culture. This change in culture created a fell out in the company. In a new market of computers they stuck to their ways of computers for smart people and didnt develop computers for the dumb users.
Ciba- Geigy (airwick)
Pharmaceutical company with a strong belief in their products helping others. Self image of company was violated when they tried to take over airwick because the products were not helping people.
“culture eats leadership”
Culture is more powerful than leadership.
Ex: a new CEO tries to increase innovation but doesn’t receive any feedback because employees are used to the old culture. Cant demand things that are against culture
Zappos
Fast growing online retailer. Their growth is the result of their strong culture and obsessive emphasis on customer service. CEO says focus on culture and profits will follow.
Tony Hsieh
CEo and founder of zappos. A forceful leader that focuses on culture. “customers are always right”
Limo driver
Zappos has a limo driver pick up the interviewee and tells them whether they should hire them or not based on how they treated the limo driver.
bonus to quit
Zappos offers employees $5000 to quit because they want to get rid of eployees that arent dedicated or loyal to the company.
Lululemon
An apparel company that has created a culture by developing their own language.
“the grind”
Fondly called “natures stairmaster” a heart pounding vertical trail that climbs Grouse Mountain. Employees flood the trail, the company uses this as a metaphor for difficult projects.
“holders of the flame”
Members of Lululemon community that, “elevate the world from mediocraty to greatness” and embody the companys culture. These people have bobbleheads made that are in the lobby of headquaters.
Ex: Founding employees
sammy the bull
grew up in a rough neighborhood and was sworn into a family of the Italian mafia
“I am your god”
Everything that Paul the leader of the mafia says must be followed as if he is god, no matter what people think is right.
