Assessing Organizational Culture Paper

Assessing Organizational Culture

When thinking of culture, my mind tends to wander toward far off places only seen on television or on the internet. Culture represents an exotic and sometimes untouchable part of the world that each individual claims depending on their background, ethnicity, race, or family history. When applying culture to the workplace, however, the idea of culture applies, not only to individual persons, but to the way in which we react to one another, perceive one another, and communicate with one another. “The culture of an organization is embedded in and expressed by patterns and habits of communication.” (Cheney, Christensen, Zorn, Jr., Ganesh 2011) This paper will explain what it means
For example, if the long-standing CEO has created a casual and relaxed atmosphere, others within the organization will adopt the same habits in order to fit the model the CEO is building. We deal with the meanings of things within our cultural system. Staying within a culture creates a certain amount of stability and predictability. Culture in the workplace can be explained easily by the differences in our co-workers and how to adapt to these differences. “Differences may originate in family background religion, age, education, occupation, wealth, status, lifestyle, interests, etc.” (Cheney, Christensen, Zorn, Jr., Ganesh 2011) I will focus on the culture of age for a moment. Recently, I started a new position with a new organization. This position offered everything I was looking for; better pay, excellent benefits, proper use of my skills, and opportunity for advancement. Shortly after orientation, I began meeting those I would be working with. I noticed very quickly that all of my co-workers are from an older generation and I am the minority. In some cases it is fun to have conversations with them regarding our age differences and for them to jokingly say, “What year were you born? I graduated high school that year, my word you are young!”, but this can also mean they do not take me as seriously as a
If the culture presented is negative, those within the organization as well as those outside the organization will take notice. The culture most affects the employees which are the foundation of an organization. Without a good foundation the organization will surely fail. If the culture presented is positive, those within the organization will commit longer, will promote the organization through outside conversation and thereby strengthen the organization’s foundation. Those on the outside of the organization, for example companies on contract such as suppliers, will notice and trust the organization to be a long-term, positive, committed