Corporate culture or organizational culture has a large impact on many aspects of a business and can sometimes influence its success or failure. It is defined as a system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs that show people what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
In this unit we will explore the fundamentals of organizational culture. We'll look at the dimensions of organizational cultures that you are likely to encounter in the workplace and why they matter. We'll also explore how managers can measure, create and maintain cultures in their organization. Finally, we'll take a look at what happens if the culture has changed or needs to change.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours.
Read this article, which explains how Yahoo! changed its corporate culture by eliminating its previous policy encouraging telecommuting and enforcing a new, stricter workplace policy that requires all employees to work on site in company offices. Consider how this change may impact productivity at Yahoo!, as well as how it may set a precedent for work cultures in other organizations. This case study will introduce you to some of the dilemmas faced by corporations and managerial staff in the 21st century.
Read the introduction and section 8.1, which briefly introduce the world of Google. As a real-life business application of the concepts you have learned in this course, this description of Google provides you with an understanding of how a modern, rapidly expanding company creates its own organizational culture.
Read this section, which discusses assumptions, values, and artifacts as they apply to organizational culture. You will learn how to identify elements of organizational culture, as well as develop an understanding of why it has become such an important aspect of a manager's success. This section also includes a discussion of the multiple layers of organizational culture that exist, and how you can better understand and interpret each one.
Read this section, which explains the seven dimensions of organizational culture and discusses how to use these dimensions to identify the impact of cultural strengths within an organization. The goal of studying this information is to help you better recognize the roles and functions that a manager must fulfill in order to make a successful impact on productivity - which, in turn, further supports the achievement of organizational goals and objectives. Carefully examine Figure 8.6, which provides an illustrated profile of organizational cultures.
Read this article, which explains the essence of corporate culture and the different types of cultures that exist within organizations.
Read this section, which discusses strategies that will assist you in better understanding organizational culture in the workplace. Several of the key points in this reading are expressed through visual models in order to help you understand how to create and maintain a productive culture within an organization.
Listen to this audio clip featuring former Shell Oil executive Anita Burke, who considers controversial issues that have led to dramatic changes in corporate culture.
Read this section, which introduces a six-step process that managers can use to support and implement cultural change. As an organization grows and develops, so does its culture. A manager must be prepared to assist in adjusting organizational culture as needed. Pay careful attention to this model for change, especially under the headings in the text titled "Creating a Sense of Urgency" and "Role-Modeling".
Read this section, which further elaborates on the idea of employee fit. Usually, when a company makes a decision to employ someone, it should be understood that the hiring managers have taken the time to assess the candidate's ability to fit within the structure of the organization. This reading provides insight that will assist you in making similar decisions about an organization you may be joining. You should focus on how to proactively assess an organization's environment in order to determine whether or not your skills, personality, and character dynamic fit well into the structure of the organization. This reading will cover the key factors that you should consider prior to joining a new organization.
Read this article and consider the following questions: How important is a company's culture to its bottom line? How do the eight guiding principles mentioned in this reading foster a positive company culture? Does the company you work for, or one you are familiar with, have a positive company culture? If yes, how so? If not, how do you think implementing these eight principles could help change the culture for the better?
Reflect on the article about company culture that you have just read. Consider a company you have worked for, or one that you are familiar with, in which the culture was a positive one. What were the aspects of this culture that made your experience positive? On the flip side, have you ever experienced a negative company culture? How did you deal with this negative environment? Share your thoughts on these questions in the course discussion forum by clicking the link above and creating a free account (if you have not already done so). Read the responses that other students have posted and post your own comments on the forum. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your peers and to receive meaningful feedback of your own.