Subcultures in an Organization
Might an organization be better considered as consisting of many subcultures which are conceptually different, rather than one 'major ' culture? | HRM Essay | Irene Puig Portero | 23.04.2012 |
Might an organization be better considered as consisting of many subcultures which are conceptually different, rather than one 'major ' culture?
The topic concerning this essay is if consider an organization as a whole of subcultures or as a single culture. First of all, it is necessary to explain what a culture is and how it influences in the company environment. Upon this, subcultures and their types are explained. To finalize, it is analysed the convenience of consider a whole of subcultures or a major culture.
1. Introduction
Executive managers in a company should ask continually themselves which elements are important for them business. The main aim is not only getting profits, but how to make them without harming the society or the employees of the organization.
This does not mean that the economic view has to be inattentive; on the contrary, a good practices implementation in the company can lead it into an earnings improvement, for instance, due to the good image perceived by customers. Ethics helps to strengthen the social responsibility objectives formulated and focused on the relationships management between the company and the stakeholders: customers, suppliers, public administration, financial institutions… Thus, we find a corporate ethics, belonging to the organization like a whole but we also find a personal or professional ethics which is individual. Obviously, both of them interact and complement each other. The ethics of the company is reflected in its culture. Individual behaviours turn towards social or common behaviours for every member of the organization. Without values neither ethics nor corporate culture does not exist.
2. Corporate culture and subcultures.
Corporate culture is the total sum of values, symbols and
Might an organization be better considered as consisting of many subcultures which are conceptually different, rather than one 'major ' culture?
The topic concerning this essay is if consider an organization as a whole of subcultures or as a single culture. First of all, it is necessary to explain what a culture is and how it influences in the company environment. Upon this, subcultures and their types are explained. To finalize, it is analysed the convenience of consider a whole of subcultures or a major culture.
1. Introduction
Executive managers in a company should ask continually themselves which elements are important for them business. The main aim is not only getting profits, but how to make them without harming the society or the employees of the organization.
This does not mean that the economic view has to be inattentive; on the contrary, a good practices implementation in the company can lead it into an earnings improvement, for instance, due to the good image perceived by customers. Ethics helps to strengthen the social responsibility objectives formulated and focused on the relationships management between the company and the stakeholders: customers, suppliers, public administration, financial institutions… Thus, we find a corporate ethics, belonging to the organization like a whole but we also find a personal or professional ethics which is individual. Obviously, both of them interact and complement each other. The ethics of the company is reflected in its culture. Individual behaviours turn towards social or common behaviours for every member of the organization. Without values neither ethics nor corporate culture does not exist.
2. Corporate culture and subcultures.
Corporate culture is the total sum of values, symbols and
References: * “Cultura empresarial”: http://web.jet.es/amozarrain/Cultura_Empresarial.htm * Jose Antonio Pérez Fernández de Velasco “Gestión de la calidad empresarial” 1994: http://books.google.es/books?id=2ibhVMNE_EgC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=cultura+subcultura+empresarial&source=bl&ots=4bVyJNkpsn&sig=jdC9A3ij_W5H7UP29479SnD2clw&hl=es&sa=X&ei=2_mCT6ryG8WHhQfqnYCzBw&ved=0CHMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=cultura%20subcultura%20empresarial&f=false * Alicia Boisnier and Jennifer A. Chatman” The Role of Subcultures in Agile Organizations”, 2002: http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/chatman/papers/20_CulturesSubculturesDynamic.pdf * John Martin and Martin Fellenz, “Organizational behavior & management”, 2010: http://books.google.es/books?id=keJu-dMltOEC&pg=PA493&lpg=PA493&dq=enhancing,+orthogonal+and+counter+cultures&source=bl&ots=LC-GrUae8u&sig=KxGp1ZlT7aOIA4gW_F2m_DlfzQE&hl=es&sa=X&ei=4K2AT9CaJoyEhQe52NHGBw&ved=0CHQQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=enhancing%2C%20orthogonal%20and%20counter%20cultures&f=false * Understanding Corporate Culture: http://www.jobs.co.za/recruitment/recruitment-advice/article/94/understanding-corporate-culture