mgmt 330 organizational culture

Manage initial expectations

(through realistic job previews) so that job applicants know exactly what the organization is like. This way, if they aren't going to fit in, they can decide to get a job somewhere else. Or, at the very least, they can prepare themselves for the experience. Think of a flu shot...The doctors inject you with a weakened version of the virus and then your body builds a resistance to that virus. When you encounter the full-fledged virus, your body is able to fight it. Likewise, if you are told beforehand about the negative aspects of the job during a realistic job preview, then you can prepare yourself. When you take the job and experience these negative aspects, they don't bother you as much because you've prepared yourself for them.

3. What are the advantages of a strong culture?

- Differentiates the organization from others - Allows employees to identify themselves with the organization - Facilitates desired behaviors among employees - Creates stability within the organization

4. What are the disadvantages of a strong culture?

- Makes mergin with another organization more difficult - Attracts and retains similar kinds of employees, therby limiting the diversity of thought - Can be too much of a good thing if it creates extreme behaviors among employees - Makes adapting to the environment more difficult

attraction-selection-attrition model

>Attraction- Only certain types of individuals are attracted to certain organizations/cultures >Selection-Organizations tend to select individuals who share the same values/goals, etc. organization members >Attrition-Individuals who don't fit with the culture and value of the organization tend to turnover

What are the different factors that make up an organization's culture?

Basic Underlying Assumptions (hardest)- Taken-for granted beliefs so ingrained that employees simply act on them rather than question their validity Espoused Values (middle)- Beliefs, philosophies, and norms that a company explicitly states Observable Artifacts (easiest)- Manifestations of an organization's culture that employees can easily see or talk about

What is the relationship between person-organization fit and job performance and commitment

High fit -> Higher satisfaction & commitment Low fit -> Unhappy and eventually turnover

What are some manifestations of an organization's culture?

Manifestations of an organization's culture that employees and outsiders can easily see or talk about Symbols Physical Structures Language Stories Rituals Ceremonies

2. What are the general types of organizational cultures and how do they differ?

Sociability - How much does everyone get along? Solidarity - How much does everyone think alike?

understanding and adapting stage

employees internalize the norms and expected behaviors of the organization.

Communal -

high sociability, high solidarity

Networked

high sociability, low solidarity

anticipatory stage

individuals gathers information about the norms, values, and rules through means such as the media, the internet, recruiters, friends or family that work at the company, etc. Information gathered during this stage influences individuals' attitudes and behaviors when they start working at the company.

encounter stage

individuals starts gathering information directly (through their personal experiences), rather than indirectly (through friends or recruiters, like before). This is an important stage because if the individuals' initial expectations (based on the anticipatory stage) are very far off from their actual experiences (during the encounter stage), then they will experience "reality shock" (aka- be very upset and probably want to quit). So, it's important for employers to minimize reality shocks.

Mercenary

low sociability, high solidarity

Fragmented

low sociability, low solidarity

2. Hire people

that fit well with the organization. This way, even if expectations aren't met, the individual's attitudes and values will be consistent with the attitudes and values of the organization and the "shock" will be more like a "pleasant surprise".