Organisational Culture

Question 1

Define organisational culture

Answer 1

the basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organisation, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic taken-for-granted fashion an organisations view of itself and its environment (Schein, 1997)

Question 2

Why is it useful?

Answer 2

• organisational structure
• external environment
• change
• planning
• cultural-web
• cultural analysis
  Fundamental to how organisations behave, perform and how they sustain themselves in the long-term

Question 3

Why is it important? - socially established structures of meaning (Geenz, 1973)

Answer 3

• taken-for-granted ways
• how groups respond
• accumulated over time
• people behave to issues
• multiple level
• frames of references

Question 4

Why is it important? - development and change to organisational strategy

Answer 4

• challenges, issues
• environment
• change
• adaptiveness
• creativity and innovation

Question 5

Philosophical Positions - Name the 4 sections of the Mapping Sport and Cultural Planning Methodology
(view model in notes)

Answer 5

Transformational Change
Interpretative Paradigm
Adaptive Simple / Incremental Change
Functional Paradigm

Question 6

What drives Nation Culture?

Answer 6

• attitude to work
• authority
• equality
• history
• religion
• subnational
  Other factors which are more UK specific:
• politics
• economy
• consumerism

Question 7

According to Dacin et al (2002) culture is shaped by work based groupings, what are they?

Answer 7

• organisational field
• interacting community
• meaning system
• same capabilities
• same recipe
• self-reinforcing networks
• assumptions, behaviours

Question 8

Legitimacy shapes strategy via…

Answer 8

• regulation
• codes of practice
• approval
• public endorsement
• mimicking of strategy
• coping in new organisation

Question 9

Organisational culture is conceived as having four layers.

what are they?

Answer 9

Values
Beliefs
Behaviours
Taken-for-granted assumptions

Question 10

With regards to the for layers of Organisational Culture, what is Values?

Answer 10

May be easy to identify in a organisation, and are often written down as statements about an organisations mission, objectives or strategies

Question 11

With regards to the for layers of Organisational Culture, what is Beliefs?

Answer 11

More specific, but again they can typically be discerned in how people talk about issues the organisations face.

Question 12

With regards to the for layers of Organisational Culture, what is Behaviours?

Answer 12

Day to day way in which an organisations operates and be seen by people both inside and outside the organisation

Question 13

With regards to the for layers of Organisational Culture, what is Taken-for-granted assumptions?

Answer 13

Core of an organisations culture, they are the aspects of organisational life which people find difficult to identify and explain. They are referred to as the organisational paradigm, the assumptions and collective.

Question 14

According to Johnson et al (2000), what are subcultures?

Answer 14

These may relate directly to the structure of the organisation, for example, geographical divisions and functional groups….. might be pursuing different types of strategy because of market positioning which give rise to different cultures

Question 15

What are the 8 sections of Cultural-Web?

Answer 15

1. Paradigm
2. Routines
3. Rituals
4. Stories
5. Symbols
6. Power Structures
7. Organisational Structures
8. Control Systems

Question 16

With regards to Cultural Web, what is paradigm?

Answer 16

Taken-for-granted assumptions and beliefs of the paradigm are the collective experiences applied to a situation to make sense of it and inform a likely course of action

Question 17

With regards to Cultural Web, what are routines?

Answer 17

The way we do things around here on a day-to-day basis. There may have a long history and may well be common across organisations

Question 18

With regards to Cultural Web, what are rituals?

Answer 18

Organisations life are activities or events that emphasis, highlight or reinforce what is especially important in the culture. Can be formal or informal

Question 19

With regards to Cultural Web, what are stories?

Answer 19

Told by members of an organisation to each other, to outsiders and new recruits. May act to embed the present organisational history and also flag up important events and personalities

Question 20

With regards to Cultural Web, what are symbols?

Answer 20

Objects, events, act or people that convey, maintain or create meaning over and above their functional purpose e.g. offices, cars, titles

Question 21

With regards to Cultural Web, what are power structures?

Answer 21

Most powerful groupings within a organisation are likely to be closely associated with the core assumptions and beliefs

Question 22

With regards to Cultural Web, what are organisational structures?

Answer 22

Likely to reflect power and show important roles and relationships e.g. formal hierarchy

Question 23

With regards to Cultural Web, what are control systems?

Answer 23

Measurements and reward systems emphasis what is important to monitor in the organisation. e.g public organisation stewardship over quality

Question 24

What topics would cultural analysis investigate?

Answer 24

• strategic capabilities
• strategic development
• managing strategic change
• culture and experience

Question 25

What is Government’s plan for new sport and physical activity?

Answer 25

• creating a sporting habit
• game plan
• community focus
• skills development - CIMSPA