National & Company Culture Flashcards
National culture is what level?
Macro
Why might Dr. Barfuss’s approach to management be culture blind/parochialism?
- Introducing some elements of performance related pay does not mean and improvement in performance, and within this can it is unnecessary, as it is not always successful, staff at Chatroux are older, committed and no not need pressure or incentives - could actually be seen as insulted
Why is it important to understand culture?
- Expected standards
- Behaviour
- Managing future events
What is national culture?
Collective programming of the mind (Hofestede, 2001)
What is the purpose of culture?
Gold Smith and Clutterbuck 1997:
The development and spread of core cause, that establishes the cultural identify.
What are the determinate of culture? (Deal and Kennedy)
- Location
- Management and leadership
- Strategy
- Size
What type of culture did Chatroux have with Legris?
‘Tough - guy macho’, was conflict amongst some managers but this was a good thing in the end
What type of culture does Chatroux have with Barfuss?
‘Process’ culture - Communication within groups & teams, spreads the risk, covers his back: may not be his intention but it might be viewed this way
What type of structural/overall culture does Chatroux have? (Handy)
Role culture, (Handy) - Greek Temple, (Handy 1976)
- mechanistic
- Bureaucracy
- Rests on key pillars
Barfuss is not fulfilling his roles and making decisions
According to Goffee and Jones what type of company is Chatroux now?
Mercenary: LowxLow
- High focus on the task and individual effort and reward
- May be too hindered by self-interest
Sociability : warm social relationships, valued for their own sake
Solidarity : extent of task-centred co-operation between people
According to Goffee and Jones what type of company was Chatroux with Legris?
Communal: HighxHigh
- Sociable, but focused on tasks and goal
- Concerned with company values
- May be too complacent
Sociability : warm social relationships, valued for their own sake
Solidarity : extent of task-centred co-operation between people
What has led to the change from communal to mercenary?
The lack of social interaction within the workforce
Is Chatroux a strong or week company?
Legge Strong, - Core values widely held - Behavioural control - But may affect flexibility It has remained this type of company through both management types (Legris & Barfuss)
What does a sustainable culture take into account/is? (Chatman and Cha)
Chatman and Cha
- Strategy, needs to be strategically relevant
- Strong
- Adaptable
What type of category are Chatroux workers?
Linear-Active: Task orientated, organised, straightforward direct discussion is preferred, and have faith in rules & regulations
Who came up with the definition of culture?
Hofestede, 2001
How many dimensions are there for Hofstede’s national culture dimensions?
6
What are the most relevant dimensions of Hofestede’s to the case or Dr. Barfuss?
- Uncertainty avoidance: French companies tend to be very high, which means they feel threatened by usual or ambiguous situations
- Individualism: France is a high individualistic culture, this means they stress more over the need of the individual compared to the group; which is demonstrated by social behaviour
What have Schneider & Barsoux said about multi-cultural teams?
Multicultural teams tend to perform either much better or much worse than mono-cultural teams
What could Scheider & Barsoux’s research into teams be indicting for Chatroux?
That in this case, the mix of the cultures is not a good one, although there have been no real impact to the business apart from the 3 departures, which could be explained by DeWits and Meyers barriers to change
What is organisational culture
Beattie 1972,
The way we do things around here
What does organisational culture establish?
- Mission & goals, how they should be fulfilled
- How problems should be resolved
- Who has power
What did Beattie 1972 come up with?
Organisational culture defintion: The way we do things around here
Goldsmith & Clutterbuck 1997 established what?
The purpose of culture
Does Chatroux have a sub-culture?
Barfuss’s deparment is kind of its own sub-culture as it operates different to the rest of the company
Legge came up with what?
Strong vs. Weak cultures
