UNIT 2: 2.5 Organisational corporate culture Flashcards
What is organisational culture?
-‘the way we do things around here’
- different organisations have distinctive cultures
- culture of an organisation gives a sense of identity
-based on the values, attitudes and beliefs of the people who work in it
Elements of organisational culture and how it can be gained
- mission and vision statements
- organisations ethical code of conduct
- strategies on social and environmental issues
What are the some different types of organisational culture?
- Power culture
- Role culture
- Task culture
- Person culture
- Entrepreneurial culture
Power culture
concentrating power among a few people
- Associated with autocratic leadership and hierarchical structures
- Power concentrated at center of organisation
Role culture
Each member of staff has a clearly defined job title and role
- Bureaucratic organisations
- Employees operate within rules, show little creativity
- Tall hierarchical structures
Task culture
based on cooperation and teamwork
- Use groups to solve particular problems
- Lines of communication similar to a matrix structure
Person culture
when individuals are given the freedom to express themselves and make decisions
- Most creative type of culture
- No emphasis on teamwork
- Each individual is focused on their own tasks and projects
Entrepreneurial culture
encourages management and workers to take risks, to come up with new ideas and test out new business ventures
- This type of culture is found in flexible organisation structures
- Motivation levels are likely to be high among people who enjoy the challenge of innovative risk-taking
What is Charles Handy’s ‘Gods of management’ organisational culture
Organisations and the culture of their managers can be classified by referring to Greek gods as metaphors (Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Dionysus)
Zeus- managers can be dynamic entrepreneurs
Apollo- bureaucracy and a role culture, lack individuality and personality, keep to job description
Athena: Task culture, goddess of problem solving
Dionysus: god of individualism, managers create an organisation that serves the individual
What is culture clash?
a conflict arising from the interaction of people with different values, attitudes and beliefs
What are some reasons for culture clashes
- When a business changes rapidly
- When a business merges with or acquires another business and
- Leadership style changes
How can we minimize clashes in cultural change?
- obtain full commitment of people at the top of business who can influence the change process
-establish objectives and mission statement that accurately reflect new values and attitudes, then communicate to all staff
-Train employees in new procedures and new ways of working
