Organizational Culture Flashcards
Organizational culture is aka….
corporate culture
Org culture:
- 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
6 manifestations of org culture:
- stories and myths
- symbols
- language
- ceremonies or rites
- physical setting
- physical structure
Stories and myths:
- narratives, often told to new employees
- transmit messages regarding org goals
- can create/establish social categories and statuses
Symbols:
- used to convey meaning to org members andpublic
- logos, colours, slogans
Language:
- use of jargon
- establish cultural boundaries
Through language, group members acquire _____ of the ways of a group, and the _____ of membership.
- knowledge
- values/implications
Ceremonies or rites:
- awards, initiations, parties
- reinforces shared values
- rite of passage
- rite of degradation
Rite of passage:
- change in role or status
- being invited to management function
- gold watch
Rite of degradation:
dissolves identity/power
Physical setting/physical structure:
- open offices, office space
- physical stimuli
- symbolic artifacts
Physical stimuli:
- coffee breaks
- pattern of interaction
Symbolic artifacts:
- trophies
- photos
Thick or thin cultures:
- strength of culture varies between orgs
- strong cultures = high performance
Thick culture:
- members agree on the importance of certain values and employ them
- will guide recruitment
Thin culture:
found where constant turnover occurs
Org may have one or more cultures, but usually have a ______ culture, with support of ____.
- dominant
- majority
Subcultures:
- 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
Org culture must be a fit between ….
- culture
- strategy
- environment
- technology
Thick cultures work best in ____ environments.
stable
Thick cultures are _____ to change.
difficult
An org’s _____ will have a lasting impact on an org’s culture.
founder
Founder must establish _____ and _____, then generate _____ for them.
- values
- vision
- enthusiasm
Culture can be created through instilling values through _____ to ____.
attention to detail
Important aspects to focus on when managing culture:
- reaction to crisis
- deliberate teaching, coaching, role modeling
- criteria for allocation of rewards and status
- criteria for recruitment, selection, promotion, retirement, excommunication
Changing culture:
- very difficult
- can be incremental or sudden
3 tests to determine if change has occurred:
- 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?
