CH 16. Organizational Culture

Question 1

Seven primary characteristics of an organization’s culture

Answer 1

Innovation and Risk-taking
Attention to Detail
Outcome Orientation
People Orientation
Team Orientation
Aggressiveness
Stability

Question 2

What are the Functions of Culture?

Answer 2

Identify the boundaries of the role; It creates distinctions between organizations
Conveys a sense of identity for organization members
Culture facilitates commitment to something larger than individual self-interest
Enhances the stability of the social system

Question 3

Ethical Considerations Ethical Work Climate (EWC)

Answer 3

The shared concept of right and wrong behavior develops as part of the organizational climate
Ethical climate index is used to categorize and measure the dimensions of culture
Culter is an asset
-Enhances positive employee interactions (structure)
-Spells out how things are done and what’s important

Question 4

What is the culture as a liability?

Answer 4

Institutionalization
Barriers to change
Barriers to diversity
Strengthing dysfunctions
Barriers to acquisitions and mergers

Question 5

Institutionalization

Answer 5

Organization becomes valued for itself and not for the goods and services it produces

Question 6

Barriers to change

Answer 6

Culture is a liability when shared values don’t agree with those that further the organization’s effectiveness

Question 7

Barriers to diversity

Answer 7

Hiring new employees who differ from the majority in race, age, gender, disability or other characteristics creates a paradox

Question 8

Strengthing dysfunctions

Answer 8

Sometimes coherence around negative and dysfunctional management systems in a corporation can produce downward forces that are equally powerful

Question 9

Barriers to acquisitions and mergers

Answer 9

Cultural compatibility is key. If they don’t mesh it can become a liability to the new corporation

Question 10

What are the three ways Culture Creations Begins?

Answer 10

1. Founders hire and keep only employees who think and feel the same way they do
2. Indoctrinate and socialize employees to their way of thinking and feeling
3. Founders’ behavior encourages employees to identify with them and internalize their beliefs, values, and assumptions

Question 11

What are the four ways to keep company culture alive?

Answer 11

Stories - What stories do you have?
Rituals - Do you have traditions related to organizational values?
Material symbols - What SWAG do you show off?
Language - Coach vs ‘Coach’

Question 12

What are the two Ethical Cultures?

Answer 12

Positive organizational culture
Spiritual culture; Workplace spirituality

Question 13

Positive organizational culture

Answer 13

Emphasizes building on employee strengths, rewards more than it punishes, and encourages individual vitality and growth

Question 14

Spiritual culture; Workplace spirituality

Answer 14

The recognition that people have an inner life that nourishes and is nourished by meaningful work that takes place in the context of community