Organizational Behavior

Module 5: Organizational Culture

Module Learning Outcomes

Discuss the impact organizational culture has on individuals and the workplace

5.1: Discuss the definition and levels of organizational culture

5.2: Describe the external factors associated with organizational culture
5.3: Describe the internal factors associated with organizational culture
Defining Organizational Culture
Learning Outcomes: Defining Organizational Culture

5.1: Discuss the definition and levels of organizational culture

5.1.1: Discuss organizational culture
5.1.2: Describe the levels of organizational culture
What is organizational culture?

• Sets the tone for an organization

• Defines acceptable behavior
• Formed by organization’s values and beliefs
• Outlines organizational procedures
Levels of Organizational Culture (Schein)

Superstructural/
ideological

Symbolic (Artifacts)

Discursive (Values)

Affective and cognitive

(underlying assumptions)
Class Discussion: What’s Your Organization’s Culture?

Take a moment as a class to discuss

your school’s or your company’s
culture. What traits make it
different from other schools or
companies?
Practice Question 1

Who influences organizational culture?

A. Human resources team

B. Every member in an organization
C. Upper level management
D. Entry level employees
Practice Question 2

Schein established three levels of organizational culture. Which of the following best describes
the top part of his pyramid, artifacts?

A. Buzzwords and phrases, rules imposed by the organization

B. Reactions to social and economic change
C. Logos, uniforms, rituals, stories, events
D. Workers’ sense of identity, attitudes and feelings
External Factors of Organizational Culture
Learning Outcomes: External Factors of Organizational
Culture
5.2: Describe the external factors associated with organizational culture
5.2.1: Describe external factors and their influence on organizational culture
5.2.2: Analyze how organizations can manage external factors
External Factors Impacting Culture

• Political factors
• Economic factors
• Industry factors
• Social factors
• Technology factors
Class Discussion: External Factors and Your Culture

For discussion, what external factors have

impacted your school’s or your company’s
culture? How are those external factors
managed?
Practice Question 4

How does technology impact culture within an organization?

A. Technology does not impact organizational culture  

B. Technology is detrimental to organizational culture
C. Technology is constantly changing to adapt to new advancements
D. Technology is optional in organizations and therefore its impact differs
Internal Factors of Organizational Culture
Learning Outcomes: Internal Factors of Organizational
Culture
5.3: Describe the internal factors associated with organizational culture
5.3.1: Describe internal factors and their influence on organizational culture
5.3.2: Discuss organizations’ methods for developing and maintaining culture
5.3.3: Describe the progression of workplace design
Internal Factors Impacting Culture

• Employees
• Leadership
• Capability and Support
• Nature of Business
• Resources and Technology
Class Discussion: Internal Factors and Your Culture

As a class, discuss the internal factors that

may be influencing your culture at school
or in your company.
Developing and Maintaining a Culture

• Vision statement
• Mission statement
• Code of ethics/Value statement
• Policies and procedures
Workplace Design

• Taylorism
• Burolandschaft (“office landscape”)
• Cubicle farm
• Open workspaces
Practice Question 5

When conducting an interview for an entry level position, the Human Resources manager asked
a number of behavioral based questions in order to gain a better understanding of the
candidate’s personality and decision making skills. Which internal factor is the HR manager
trying to protect and control?

A. Employee factors
B. Nature of the business factors
C. Leadership factors
D. Capability factors
Practice Question 6

Which of the following is a poor example of how to develop and maintain culture?

A. Create a mission statement

B. Create a stock statement
C. Create a values statement
D. Create a vision statement
Practice Question 7

Which workplace design changed the focus from employee interaction to instead focus on
minimizing overhead costs and providing individual work spaces for each employee?

A. Taylorism Design
B. Wright’s Office Design
C. Burolandschaft
D. Cubicle Farm
Quick Review

• Organizational culture sets the tone for acceptable behavior within its operations with its
values, mission, vision and code of ethics
• There are, according to Schein, four levels of organizational culture
• External influences on culture include politics, economics, technology, and more
• Employees, leadership, resources and capability are among those internal factors that can
influence culture
• Workplace design can often influence culture