Cultural Change In Social Welfare Organizations

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Is It Realistic To Try To Change Organizational Culture, Or Is It Better To Try To Manage Around It Or Ignore It?

Lee Sze Ting, Ina

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Introduction
Culture plays a prominent role in social welfare organizations as it outlines their ability to meet particular social demands. When an organization does not possess a healthy culture, managers may attempt to change the culture. Nevertheless, cultural change has been one of the biggest challenges to all organizations because culture is embedded in a system of deep-rooted beliefs and traditions.
In this study, the feasibility of cultural change in social welfare organizations is discussed. Different approaches to cultural management are also addressed. …show more content…

While these factors can influence organizational culture, they can also be the barriers to cultural change. Among all these factors, (1) influence of the founders, (2) the working groups, and (3) organizational size and structure are particularly discussed below because of their relatively large hindrance to cultural change in social welfare organizations.
1. Influence of the Founders
The founders have a very strong and long-lasting impact on organizational culture because the initial values are constructed by them (Frost et. al., 1985). Aforementioned, values are crucial to social welfare organizations in providing direction to its members as well as drawing support from the public. These values are then demonstrated through behaviors, which in turn produce structures and processes. As the organization grows, the founders continue to stimulate …show more content…

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