Organizational Culture

Question 1

Organizational culture is aka….

Answer 1

corporate culture

Question 2

Org culture:

Answer 2

• recent development in org theory
• grown out of success of Japanese industry
• a combination of beliefs, ideology, language, ritual, myth
• a set of understandings (often implicit) shared by members of a community
• provides stability to an org

Question 3

6 manifestations of org culture:

Answer 3

• stories and myths
• symbols
• language
• ceremonies or rites
• physical setting
• physical structure

Question 4

Stories and myths:

Answer 4

• narratives, often told to new employees
• transmit messages regarding org goals
• can create/establish social categories and statuses

Question 5

Symbols:

Answer 5

• used to convey meaning to org members andpublic

- logos, colours, slogans

Question 6

Language:

Answer 6

• use of jargon

- establish cultural boundaries

Question 7

Through language, group members acquire _____ of the ways of a group, and the _____ of membership.

Answer 7

• knowledge

- values/implications

Question 8

Ceremonies or rites:

Answer 8

• awards, initiations, parties
• reinforces shared values
• rite of passage
• rite of degradation

Question 9

Rite of passage:

Answer 9

• change in role or status
• being invited to management function
• gold watch

Question 10

Rite of degradation:

Answer 10

dissolves identity/power

Question 11

Physical setting/physical structure:

Answer 11

• open offices, office space
• physical stimuli
• symbolic artifacts

Question 12

Physical stimuli:

Answer 12

• coffee breaks

- pattern of interaction

Question 13

Symbolic artifacts:

Answer 13

• trophies

- photos

Question 14

Thick or thin cultures:

Answer 14

• strength of culture varies between orgs

- strong cultures = high performance

Question 15

Thick culture:

Answer 15

• members agree on the importance of certain values and employ them
• will guide recruitment

Question 16

Thin culture:

Answer 16

found where constant turnover occurs

Question 17

Org may have one or more cultures, but usually have a ______ culture, with support of ____.

Answer 17

• dominant

- majority

Question 18

Subcultures:

Answer 18

• will develop on societal lines
• also will develop within departments
• important to foster a strong org culture but also be aware that differences will always exist

Question 19

Org culture must be a fit between ….

Answer 19

• culture
• strategy
• environment
• technology

Question 20

Thick cultures work best in ____ environments.

Answer 20

stable

Question 21

Thick cultures are _____ to change.

Answer 21

difficult

Question 22

An org’s _____ will have a lasting impact on an org’s culture.

Answer 22

founder

Question 23

Founder must establish _____ and _____, then generate _____ for them.

Answer 23

• values
• vision
• enthusiasm

Question 24

Culture can be created through instilling values through _____ to ____.

Answer 24

attention to detail

Question 25

Important aspects to focus on when managing culture:

Answer 25

• reaction to crisis
• deliberate teaching, coaching, role modeling
• criteria for allocation of rewards and status
• criteria for recruitment, selection, promotion, retirement, excommunication

Question 26

Changing culture:

Answer 26

• very difficult

- can be incremental or sudden

Question 27

3 tests to determine if change has occurred:

Answer 27

• evidence of intrinsically motivated behaviour
• do employees react in line with culture or do they wait for directions?
• do people act contrary to old norms in order to abide by new ones?