Revitalizing Your Youth ProgramRabbi Charlie Savenor, METNY Executive Director
Organizational Culture
One of the primary responsibilities of leaders is to create and maintain the organizational characteristicsthat encourage and reward collective effort and a shared sense of purpose. The most fundamentalexpression of these can be found in what is called “organizational culture.”Edgar Schein, the MIT Professor of Management and author of
Organizational Culture and Leadership: A Dynamic View,
suggests that an organization's culture develops to help it cope with its environment.Contemporary organizational leaders in business, synagogues, schools, and youth programs areconfronted with many complex issues during their attempts to generate community and achievement. Aleader's success will depend, to a great extent, upon understanding and shaping his/her organizationalculture.Schein advocates that there are three levels that constitute organizational culture:1)
Basic Assumptions -
Basic assumptions are shared convictions and constitute a unique common psychology that permeates and informs an institution’s values and artifacts. Moreover, the behavior of all members of the synagogue or school community is shaped and guided by them.2)
Espoused Values -
Espoused values frequently develop when problems are solved. The challenge ishow to be proactive and promote the values that will shape a community.3)
Artifacts and Creations -
Artifacts are the most tangible level of culture. Values and basicassumptions will be embodied by the chapter, synagogue, or school’s rituals, heroes, traditions,ceremonies, creations, language, space and decor.What are your synagogue’s basic assumptions regarding youth?What are the espoused values of your synagogue towards youth?What are the artifacts of your synagogue youth program?
METNY Region USCJ
330 W. 38
th
Leave a Comment