Session 3- Organisational culture

Question 1

Who are the 2 writers who defined culture

Answer 1

Hofstede
Schein

Question 2

Define culture according to Schein

Answer 2

set of shared,implicit ,taken for granted assumptions that a group holds which determines how it perceives, think about and react to its environment

Question 3

Define culture according to Hofstede

Answer 3

collective programming of the mind which distinguishes members of one category from another

Question 4

Give 2 words to describe culture

Answer 4

1. Distinctive- Acceptable behaviour can differ from organisations
2. Dynamic- culture can develop or change overtime or drastically due to a sudden event (takeover)
   - weak v/s strong culture

Question 5

Give 3 components of culture

Answer 5

1. Norms that guide behaviour of people - about what is acceptable or not
2. Symbol/ Symbolic action - buying cake for everyone for your birthday
3. Set of values and beliefs- identify what is important

Question 6

Give 6 factors that shape culture of an organisation

Answer 6

1. Size
2. Technological advancement
3. Age
4. History
   5.Diversity
   6.Ownership

Question 7

What are the 3 writers on culture

Answer 7

1. Schein Edgar- elements of culture
   2.Charles Handy- Culture and Structure
2. Geert Hofstede- National culture

Question 8

what does schein say

Answer 8

first leaders of a company create the culture of the company while attributes for later leaders are determined by the culture

Question 9

What are 3 levels of culture by Schein

Answer 9

1. Observable elements
   -behaviour(what is acceptable or not)
   -artefacts(visible organizational structure and process)
   . attitudes(pattern of collective behaviour-greeting)
2. Espoused Values and Beliefs
   -strategies,goals, company slogans
3. Underlying assumption,rules beliefs
   -unseen,taken for granted, exist at the unconscious level
   -unspoken rules no longer questioned and simply recognised

Question 10

Define artefacts

Answer 10

aspects of culture that can be easily seen

Question 11

What are the 4 cultural types of Charles Handy

Answer 11

1. power culture(Zeus)
2. Role culture (Apollo)
3. Task Culture (Athena)
4. Person culture (Dionysus)

Question 12

Explain the power culture

Answer 12

• 1 major source of power and influence
  -personal relationship with the top person matters more than any formal position
  -power is direct, informal, personal
  -suits small organisations where people get on well

Question 13

Explain role culture

Answer 13

-bureaucratic- structure determines authority and reponsibility
- strong emphasis on hierarchy and status
-formalised- controlled by procedures
- slow changing- value predictability
-coordination

Question 14

Explain task culture

Answer 14

-small team approach to achieve specific task
-emphasis is on results and getting things done
-empowerment,flexibility, adaptable
-continuous team solving

Question 15

Explain person culture

Answer 15

-purpose is to serve the interests of the individuals who make it up
- where individuals undertake all duties themselves
-no super-ordinate objective, culture cant be transferred to another organization

Question 16

what does contigency imply in this situation

Answer 16

it all depends
where one organization can have different cultures in different depts

Question 17

what are the 5 traits according to Geert Hofstede

Answer 17

1. Power distance
2. Masculinity v/s Feminity
3. Uncertainty avoidance
4. Individualism v/s Collectivism
5. Confucianism v/s Dynamism

Question 18

Explain power distance

Answer 18

how subordinates respond to power and authority

high power- afraid of bosses, keep gap, paternalistic or autocratic, centralisation,supervision

low power- challenge biss, consultative mgt style

Question 19

Explain individualism v/s collectivism

Answer 19

individualism- value autonomy, individual choice and responsibility, look out for themselves
-impersonal
-task achievement is more important than relationship

collectivist- mgt is seen in a team context
-bounded by strong personal and protective ties
-cohesive culture
training, physical condition, use of skills

Question 20

Explain masculinity v/s feminity

Answer 20

high masculinity culture- difference between gender roles is large
masculine: high pay,recognition,advancement,challenge, competition,material success
feminine: focus on quality of working life, relationships, security

feminine culture- minimise gap between gender roles
feminine values are dominant

Question 21

Explain uncertainty avoidance

Answer 21

Strong UA- feel threatend by unknown situations, rules and regulations, avoid risk
security,order, control are prefered

Weak UA - flexibly, innovative, open to risk,
ambiguity,uncertainty and change are valued

Question 22

Define confucianism

Answer 22

what worked in the past should be able to bring positive results in the future
- resist change