Organizational Culture

Question 1

What is Organizational Culture?

Answer 1

A system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations.

Question 2

What are 7 factors that can be taken into account in capturing the essence of an organization’s culture? (7 primary characteristics)

Answer 2

1. Innovation and risk taking
2. Attention to detail
3. Outcome orientation
4. People orientation
5. Team orientation
6. Aggressivenes
7. Stability

Question 3

Whats does artifacts refer to in organizational culture?

Answer 3

Aspects of an organization’s culture that you see, hear and feel.

Question 4

What are the two other concepts that are not visible for outsiders and sometimes even for employees?

Answer 4

1. Beliefs, Values

2. Underlying assumptions

Question 5

What are beliefs?

Answer 5

The understandings of how objects and ideas relate to each other.

Question 6

What are values?

Answer 6

The stable, long lasting beliefs about what is important.

Question 7

What are core values?

Answer 7

The primary or dominant values that are accepted throughout the organization.

Question 8

What are assumptions?

Answer 8

They are the taken-for-granted notions of how something should be. Ex: in Canada students usually assume that tuition for schools should be minimal as to allow for a greater number of students to have access to university.

Question 9

What is a dominant culture?

Answer 9

It is a system of shared meaning that expresses the core values shared by a majority of the organization’s members.

Question 10

What is a subculture?

Answer 10

They are mini-culture within an organization, typically defined by department designations and geographical separation.

Question 11

What is a strong culture?

Answer 11

A culture in which the core values are intensely held and widely shared.
(high number of individuals, but not necessarily positive. Ex: positive when aim for stability.
Negative when change is to be brought about and not easy to obtain.

Question 12

What is a weak culture?

Answer 12

A culture in which the values are held by a minority of individuals
They have a fewer amount of individuals.
Positive when there must be a change
Negative when it can cause instability.

Question 13

What is organizational climate?

Answer 13

The shared perceptions organizational members have about their organization and work environment. It is a subset of culture.

Question 14

What is ethical work climate?

Answer 14

The shared concept of right and wrong behaviour in the workplace that reflects the true values of the organization and shapes the ethical decision-making of its members.

Question 15

What are rituals?

Answer 15

Repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the key values of the organization; what goals are most important; and which people are important and which are expandable. ex: speech

Question 16

What are material symbols?

Answer 16

It is what conveys to employees who is important, the degree of egalitarianism top management desires, and the kinds of behaviour that are appropriate. Ex: dress code, cars given by company, size of offices.

Question 17

What is socialization?

Answer 17

It is the process that adapts new employees to an organization’s culture.

Question 18

What are the three stages of socialization?

Answer 18

1. Prearrival (before employee joins org.)
2. Encounter (Employee sees what the org. is really like)
3. Metamorphosis( The employee adjusts to the values and norms of org. , job, work group)

Question 19

What is a positive organizational structure?

Answer 19

It is a culture that emphasizes building on employee strengths, rewards more than punishes, and emphasizes individual vitality and growth.

Question 20

What is an ethical organizational structure?

Answer 20

A culture that is strong and supports high ethical standards.