Organizational Culture Flashcards
What is Organizational Culture?
A system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations.
What are 7 factors that can be taken into account in capturing the essence of an organization’s culture? (7 primary characteristics)
- Innovation and risk taking
- Attention to detail
- Outcome orientation
- People orientation
- Team orientation
- Aggressivenes
- Stability
Whats does artifacts refer to in organizational culture?
Aspects of an organization’s culture that you see, hear and feel.
What are the two other concepts that are not visible for outsiders and sometimes even for employees?
- Beliefs, Values
2. Underlying assumptions
What are beliefs?
The understandings of how objects and ideas relate to each other.
What are values?
The stable, long lasting beliefs about what is important.
What are core values?
The primary or dominant values that are accepted throughout the organization.
What are assumptions?
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.
What is a dominant culture?
It is a system of shared meaning that expresses the core values shared by a majority of the organization’s members.
What is a subculture?
They are mini-culture within an organization, typically defined by department designations and geographical separation.
What is a strong culture?
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.
What is a weak culture?
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.
What is organizational climate?
The shared perceptions organizational members have about their organization and work environment. It is a subset of culture.
What is ethical work climate?
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.
What are rituals?
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
What are material symbols?
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.
What is socialization?
It is the process that adapts new employees to an organization’s culture.
What are the three stages of socialization?
- Prearrival (before employee joins org.)
- Encounter (Employee sees what the org. is really like)
- Metamorphosis( The employee adjusts to the values and norms of org. , job, work group)
What is a positive organizational structure?
It is a culture that emphasizes building on employee strengths, rewards more than punishes, and emphasizes individual vitality and growth.
What is an ethical organizational structure?
A culture that is strong and supports high ethical standards.
