Organizational culture is the set of assumptions, beliefs, values and norms that are shared by the members of an organization.
Organizational Culture
Organizational culture is the set
of assumptions, beliefs, values and norms that are shared by the members of an
organization. It may be consciously created by its key members, or it may have
simply evolved over time. It represents a key element of the work environment
in which employees perform their jobs. A culture may exist across an entire
organization, or it may refer to the environment within a single division,
branch, plant, or department. The idea of organizational culture is somewhat
intangible, for we cannot see it or touch it, but it is present and pervasive.
Like the air in a room, it surrounds and affects everything that happens in an
organization. Because it is a dynamic systems concept, culture is also affected
by almost everything that occurs within an organization. They give an
organizational identity to employees – a defining vision of what the
organization represents. They are also an important source of stability and
continuity to the organization which provides a sense of security to its
members.
Characteristics of Cultures
Each organization has its own
history, patterns of communication, systems and procedures, mission statements
and visions, stories and myths which, in their totality, constitute its
distinctive culture. Cultures are also relatively stable in nature. Most
organizational cultures have historically been rather implicit rather than
explicit. A defining characteristic of most culture is that they are seen as
symbolic representations of underlying beliefs and values.
Measuring Organizational Culture
Systematic measurement and
comparison of cultures is difficult. Most of the early attempts by researchers
relied on examination of stories, symbols, rituals, and ceremonies to obtain
clues. Others have used interviews and open ended questionnaires in an attempt
to assess employee values and beliefs. In some cases, examination of corporate
philosophy statements has provided insights into the espoused cultures (the
beliefs and values that the organizations state publicly). Another approach is to survey employees
directly and seek their perceptions of the organization’s culture. Another
interesting method is to become a member of the organization and engage in
participant observation.
Characteristics of organizational cultures
-- Distinctive
-- Stable
-- Implicit
-- Symbolic
-- Integrated
-- Accepted
-- A
reflection of top management
Communicating Culture
If organizations are to
consciously create and manage their cultures, they must be able to communicate
them to employees, especially the newly hired ones. Individuals are generally
more willing to adapt when they want to please others, gain approval, and learn
about their new work environment. These cultural communication acts may be
lumped under the umbrella of organizational socialization, which is the
continuous process of transmitting key elements of an organization’s culture to
its employees. Individualization occurs when employees successfully exert
influence on the social system around them at work by challenging the culture
or deviating from it.
Tags : Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour - Organisational Structure, Climate And Culture
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