Cultural Approaches Chapter 5 Marina Santana A Definition

Cultural Approaches Chapter 5 Marina Santana

A Definition of Culture “… a pattern of shared basic assumptions that the group learned as it solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration, that has worked well enough to be considered valid, and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems. ” pg. 105

Cultural Approaches Overview 1. Prescriptive Views of Culture a Deal & Kennedy’s “Strong Cultures” b Peters & Waterman’s “Excellent Cultures” 2. Alternative Approaches to Culture a Four types of Organizational Cultures 3. Schein’s Model of Organizational Culture a Three levels of cultural elements 4. Methods for Studying Organizational Culture

Prescriptive Views of Culture 1. Deal and Kennedy’s “Strong Cultures” Four components of a strong culture: (1) (2) (3) (4) Values Heroes Rites and rituals Cultural networks 2. Peters and Waterman’s “Excellent Cultures” Themes (see pg. 98)

Peters & Waterman’s Themes for Excellent Organizations Theme 1. A Bias for Action Description Excellent organizations react quickly and do not spend excess time planning and analyzing. 2. Close Relations to the Customer Excellent organizations gear decisions and actions to the needs of customers. 3. Autonomy and Entrepreneurship Excellent organizations encourage employees to take risks in the development of new ideas. 4. Productivity through People 5. Hands-On, Value-Driven 6. Stick to the Knitting 7. Simple Farm, Lean Staff Excellent organizations encourage positive and respectful relationships among management and employees. Excellent organizations have employees and managers who share the same core value of productivity and performance. Excellent organizations stay focused on what they do best and avoid radical diversification. Excellent organizations avoid complex structures and divisions of labor. Excellent organizations exhibit both unity of purpose and the diversity necessary for innovation. Pg. 98 8. Simultaneous Loose-Tight Properties

Alternative Approaches to Culture 1. Organizational Cultures Are Complicated “Markets” Rites Ceremonies Values Beliefs systems Metaphors Stories Communication rules Hallway talk

Alternative Approaches to Culture 2. Organizational Cultures Are Emergent Cultural performances (1) interactional (2) contextual (3) episodic (4) improvisational

Alternative Approaches to Culture 3. Organizational Cultures Are Not Unitary a) Sites of cultures and cultural penetration b) Differences in power and interests 4. Organizational Cultures Are Often Ambiguous a) Fragmentation

Schein’s Model of Organizational Culture A Definition of Culture (1) group phenomenon (2) pattern of basic assumptions (3) emergent and developmental (4) socializing “learning the ropes”

Schein’s Model A Model of Culture pg. 107 Level 1: Artifact Most visible level Level 2: Espoused Values (a) Organizations do not have values, individuals do. (b) Values and behaviors do not always match. Level 3: Basic Assumptions “taken for granted” Six areas of basic assumptions that are typically revolve pg. 110.

Levels of Culture & Their Interaction Artifacts and Creations. Technology Art Visible and audible behavior patterns Values Testable in the physical environment Testable only by social consensus Basic Assumptions Relationship to environment Nature of reality, time, and space Nature of human nature Nature of human activity Nature of human relation Visible but often not decipherable Greater level of awareness Taken for granted' Invisible Preconscious

Cultural Artifacts & Behaviors Art Is public art classical? Modern? Impressionistic? Do employees decorate their own spaces with posters and photos? What do those personal spaces look like? Forms of address Are titles or first names used? Do forms of address vary by job level? Do forms of address change over time? Does everyone follow the same rules for address? Network configuration Who talks to whom? Does the network pattern vary for work and social communication? Has the network pattern changed over time? Pg. 108

Methods for Studying Organizational Culture Ethnography= Writing of culture The goal is to minimize the distance between the researcher and the culture being investigated. Through personal experience Creates a mini-theory Then the culture can be written Three kinds of cultural tales (1) realist tale (2) confessional tale (3) impressionist tales Addition critical tale