Organizational Culture Summary

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Organizational culture has been a theme among the structure of companies through policy, values, mission statements, standards, procedures and even tradition. Chris Grey describes briefly how we study organizations, first through theory and scientific approach. He introduced different types of theories that began this new study of how organizations operate by describing certain groups such as organizational theorists/positivists, intrepretivists/constructivists, managerialists and critics as discussed in earlier readings (Grey, 2009.) Deriving from these theories and approaches he then adds on by noting Max Weber, a German sociologist who observed how manager’s can lead a group through a dehumanizing way of bureaucracy with power, force, …show more content…
This novel technique was common with my previous employer who allowed employees to wear Steelers’ shirts, jerseys and scrubs every time they played during football season. Simple and novel it was still part of the organization’s culture. One most recognized novel technique in culture is the use of symbols to distinguish a company or brand as seen with apparel like logos or phrases. Gunther Kress studied modes and semiotics as a way to communicate to the audience. Symbols, signs and a group of text is always used to grab the audience’s attention. In this case the audience is the employees and customers who would know their company’s identity based on these modes. (Kress, 2010). Most common uses of symbols and slogans are more noticed with fashion …show more content…
Grey notes from Linda Smircich’s organizational analysis that culture management can be a critical variable or a root metaphor. (1983). The critical variable of organizational culture can be managed since these shared values are actually being directed by managers in the case of productivity, profit and goals and only can work for those employees who accept it. These values initiated and defined by senior management who created and implemented them. The root metaphor culture is when “people in organizations do things; they work together in a certain way; that’s the culture. It is natural and spontaneous..,” (Grey, 2009, P. 73.) Looking at the supermarket example, where customer service is the number one priority in the company’s culture. Employees have to smile at each customer and have a very friendly demeanor to provide excellent service. If the staff shared the same values as upper management then this culture would be a critical variable. However most cases resulted in employees putting on a fake smile and with an acted friendly character because they were being watched by cameras, displayed the root metaphor in

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