Chapter 7 - Organizational Culture

Shared Assumptions

The foundation beliefs that impact how people think about and respond to organizational events, but which are mostly subconscious.

Which type of culture leads to better performance, strong or weak?

Strong

Define characteristics of collectivist cultures

Assume they are already members of a cohesive in-group to which they have belonged since birth

Know the examples of tangible aspects of culture

Behaviors, language, and physical symbols

What is represented by collective beliefs, ideals and feelings.. ?

Cultural values

What are the two major challenges that impact the development of culture?

External Adaptation (How the organization responds to the external environment and the changes that occur in it.) and Internal Integration (How the organization coordinates its internal systems and processes.)

Internal Integration

How the organization coordinates its internal systems and processes.

External Adaptation

How the organization responds to the external environment and the changes that occur in it.

List and define Hofstede's 4 cultural values

Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism versus collectivism, and Masculinity versus memininity

List the 6 ways culture is maintained in an organization

Selection and Retention of employees, Allocation of rewards and status, Reactions of Leaders, Rites and Ceremonies, Stories and Symbols, and Reaction to Crises.

What are situation specific rules?

Shared Norms - common expectations that guide the behavior of organizational members

Organizational myths

Significant stories that are told about an organization's earlier years that impact the way members think about its history even if they are not true.

What can leaders do to increase personal power?

Spend time on Activities that are important, Change or enhasce the setting, Review and interpret history, Establish a dominate value express in a simple phrase.

Power Distance

The acceptability of status differentials between members of a society.

Organizational Climate

The characteristics describing an organization that are relatively visible and stable, but amenable to change

Shared norms

The common expectations that guide the behavior of organizational members.

Uncertainty Avoidance

The degree of ambiguity and uncertainty people are willing to tolerate.

Masculinity versus Femininity

The degree to which gender role differences are emphasized in terms of valuing assertive and aggressive male roles over more tender feminine attributes.

Individualism versus collectivism

The degree to which people are willing to act individually as a unique person versus as a uniform members of a group.

Define shared assumptions

The foundation beliefs that impact how people think about and respond to organizational events, but which are mostly subconscious.

Organizational Culture

The shared beliefs and expectations among the members of an organization that are relatively enduring and resistant to change

Cultural values

The social values that are shared among the members of an organization and tend to regulate their individual behaviors and induce collective conformity.

Rites and ceremonies

The special events in organizations that recognize individuals and the ways they are treated.

Cultural Artifacts

The visible symbols and objects that are unique to an organization and that suggest the kinds of shared beliefs and expectations of members.

Define characteristics of high masculinity

Tough values such as assertiveness, accomplishment, success and compentition.