workplace or organizational culture Flashcards
Influences of workplace Culture
the environment where you work
the mode of operation
Workplace culture:
Way of “thinking” and “behaving” that is shared by all members of the organization: Influences, values, the way the place works.
- what gives meaning and makes you excited to go to work
- -gives a form of group control
Culture:
It is related to shared values, beliefs, language, traditions and customs
Climate:
The individual “perceptions” or “view” which people have regarding various aspects of the workplace environment
Organizational culture:
*strong influence in what happens in the workplace.
Norms and traditions about the way people work together. This is unique to each organization. Members of a unit have their own unique ways of thinking, behaving and believing
It has a strong influence on what actually happens in the organization and how it should function. i.e new employees are ‘taught’ the correct way to provide care and r/t other workers
NORMS & VALUES M/B: 4
- Behavior
- Language
- Symbols
- Assumptions
FUNCTIONS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE: 4
4 things that an organizational culture does…
- Gives members a sense of identity
- promotes a sense of commitment
- enhances the stability of the social system
- helps make sense of behavior
ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: 4
Elements that give us a clue to an organization’s culture include the following:
- Mission statements- philosophy, visions, goals, objectives.
- Formal Structure- proper ways of reporting and responsibility
- Political Structure- who has the power
- Financial Structure- who are the sources (who will help fund resources)
Types of culture: 2
- Explicit – that which is formally written out.ie job descriptions, policies, procedures: expected bhvrs and limits. Job descriptions, mission statements, rules, policies
- Implicit – not as formalized, not usually written down. Typically the lived experience or day-to-day experiences of the specific unit: shared knowledge, traditions, rituals, day-to-day routines, dress code… ex. don’t sit in unit clerks chair
Assessment of culture: 9
- Image- uniform, hair, nails
- Power Structure- ICU, emerg, OR; power titles and positions
- Subculture-little grp making friends within bigger grp
- Physical Environment- looks nice, lighting
- Communication Environment- usual mode of communicating; email…
- Social Environment- celebrate B-days, retirement
- Support- education $ to take a course
- Safety- security gaurds
- Taboos, Heroes- things that are highly valued by certain ppl
Power def:
one’s degree of influence over others, to the extent that obedience or conformity are assumed to follow. Having the power to influence others changes how one things about themselves. There are always consequences
Policies def:
process by which one influences the decisions of others and exerts control over situations and events.
SOURCES OF POWER: 8
- Legitimate power – based on authority that is vested in a role or position, recognized by others (individual Power dependent on organization). PCC, director, CNE
- Coercive power – based on the use of negative sanctions such as threat or punishment.(Individual power – dependent on organization)
- Reward power – based on persons access to rewards (individual power – dependent on organization). Shift trade
- Expert power – based on valid knowledge or information in a given domain. (individual power- based on the person, not the organization). ex. wound care nurse. emerg expert for starting IVs
- Referent power – based on positive appeal to which others respond (individual power – based on person, not the organization)
- Information power – based on the leader’s knowledge of or access to information. where can I get that info?
- Connection/Associative power – comes from association with a powerful figure. who you know/associated with
- Lower participant power – those lower in hierarchy have a hold over the managers
Importance of culture: 3
- CRNBC policy statement speaks well to the importance of culture. CRNBC mandate: public safety and safe environments.
- The document speaks to what is important in culture and role of nurses in culture to ensure that goals are met.
- It is ensuring that practice environments promote quality care.
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE: 10
- Culture helps to determine the success of an organization.
- Culture can impede or facilitate change that is necessary for progress.
- Work redesign – help the group to learn and accept new values, norms and assumptions.
- Empowerment of staff – develops and nurtures the norms about what we believe.
- Leader has to impact how policies/procedures are carried out
- May be able to shape and influence the culture by modeling the philosophy, projecting vision and modeling values, setting policy, supporting and rewarding.
- Interaction with others has major impact on the org. culture
- Trust and support – permeates an organization
- Visibility
- Demonstrate commitment
