Types of organisational cultures

SHAPING LEARNING ORGANISATIONS

How Types of Organisational Cultures
Contribute in Shaping Learning Organisations
Hasan Danaee Fard
Ali Asghar Anvary Rostamy
Hamid Taghiloo
Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract
The main purpose of this empirical study is to examine the relationship between four types of organisational cultures and the shaping learning organisation. In this study, we have selected two groups of public organisations (more successful and less successful public organisations).
The sample of this study comprises senior employees of these two groups.
Results of Spearman Rank Correlation and Fridman tests reveal that there is a significant correlation between organisational cultures and learning organisations in Iranian public organisations. In addition, we found that although participative culture has a higher correlation coefficient, but learning culture has the highest ranking among different types of cultures.
Key Words: Learning organisation theory, Learning public organisations,
Organisational culture, Bureaucratic culture, Competitive culture, Participative culture, Learning culture

Introduction

T

his article investigates how types of organisational cultures con tribute in shaping learning organisation in the public service system. Organisational culture has been defined from various perspectives (Carroll and Nafukho, 2006; Popper and Lipshitz, 1995; Shien, 1990;
Alvesson, 2002; Cook and Yanow, 1993; Adler and Jelinek, 1996; Argris,
1999). For example, according to Marguardt (2002), culture is “an organisation’s values, beliefs, practices, rituals and customs”. The culture of a learning organisation habitually learns and works to integrate processes in all organisation functions. In effect, the learning organisation’s culture is constantly evolving and travels along an infinite continuum in a harmonious learning environment. Ultimately, the goal is an exchange of useful knowledge leading to innovation, and improved learning public
organisations.

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