Organizational Culture and

Climate

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 Outline
 Defining Culture
 Aspects of Culture
 Typology of Culture
 Developing and Maintaining Culture
 Defining Climate
 Types of Climate
 Outcomes of Climate
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Class Model

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 Discussion Questions
 What do you think about when you hear the
term, “Corporate Culture?”
 What is the culture like at your current job?

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Quick Comic

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 Organizational Culture Defined
 Definition
 The shared knowledge within an organization
regarding the rules, norms, and values that shape
the attitudes and behaviors of its employees.

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 Three Aspects of Culture
1. Observable artifacts
 Manifestations of culture that employees can easily see or talk
about.
 Symbols, physical structures, language, stories, rituals, ceremonies
2. Espoused values
 Beliefs, philosophies, and norms that a company explicitly
states.
 Corporate mission statement
3. Basic underlying assumptions
 Taken-for-granted beliefs and philosophies that are so ingrained
that employees simply act on them rather than questioning the
validity of their behavior in a given situation.
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Quick Comic

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 Typology of Organizational Culture

Communal Networked

Sociability

Fragmented Mercenary

Solidarity 9
Quick Comic

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 Discussion Question
 As a manger, what can you do to create a
positive culture?

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 Developing and Maintaining an
Organizational Culture
 Attraction-Selection-Attrition (ASA) Model
 People are attracted to organizations that perceive fit in.
 Organizations are more likely to select individuals that fit.
 Individuals who no longer fit are likely to leave or be
terminated.
 As Jonny Cochrane would say, “If the person don’t fit, s/he must
attrit.”
 Socialization
 The primary process by which employees learn the social
knowledge that enables them to understand and adapt to
the organization’s culture. 12
 Discussion Questions
 Is it easy or hard to change a culture? Why?
 If the organizational culture at your company
needs to be changed, what can be done about
it?

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 Quick Video
 Check out the lengths some companies will
go to maintain a unified culture (Yikes!):
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qAuqq1LFn
U

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 Organizational Climate Defined
 Definition
 The practices, policies, and procedures, that are
expected, encouraged, and rewarded with regard
to something.

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 Discussion Question
 What types of climates could exist in an
organization?

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 Service Climate Example
 How would you rate the job knowledge and skills of department
employees to deliver superior quality service?
 How would you rate the leadership shown by your department manager
in supporting a service quality effort?
 How would you rate the recognition and rewards that department
employees receive for the delivery of superior quality service?
 How would you rate the effectiveness of your department manager’s
communication efforts to department employees?
 How would you rate efforts to measure and track the quality of your
department’s service?
 How would you rate the equipment, technology, and other resources
department employees have to support the delivery of superior quality
service?
 How would you rate the service you receive from other areas in the store
in support of your efforts to provide superior service?
 Overall, how would you rate the climate for service in your department?
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 Discussion Question
 How can management create an ethical
climate?
 Recruitment/Selection/Promotions
 Orientation and training
 Policies and codes
 Decision making
 Rewards and punishment systems
 Communication
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 Outcomes of Climates
 Innovation ?
 Ethical  ?
 Service  ?
 Physical Safety  ?
 Psychological Safety ?
 Diversity ?

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 Take-Home Points
 Aware that culture and climate are ways to
think about the work environment.
 Understand how to develop a positive
culture/climate in your organization.
 Realize that culture/climates are hard to
change, but that they provide the opportunity
for a strategic advantage.

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