Definition of an Organizational culture: Within an organization, a shared set of beliefs, expectations, values, and norms are established to influence groups, teams, and individuals to interact and work together collectively to achieve organizational goals (Jones and George, 2014, p. 84).
Organizational culture is the intangible quality keeping the workforce, leadership, customers and stakeholders bounded together. It is the system with which an organization functions and produces. “Organizational culture refers to a system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs that show people what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior” (Flat World Knowledge, n.d.).
Organizational culture can be defined as a system of shared beliefs and values that develops within an organization and guides the behavior of its members. It includes routine behaviors, norms, dominant values, and a feeling or climate conveyed. The purpose and function of this culture is to help foster internal integration, bring staff members from all levels of the organization much closer together, and enhance their performance.
The Collins English dictionary (2016) defines organizational culture as customs, rituals and values shared by the members of an organization that have to be accepted by new members. Stephen Robbins identified organizational culture as uniform perception of an organization which has common characteristics (Robbins, 1986). Denise Rousseau on the other hand defined organizational culture as a set of commonly experienced stable characteristics of an organization which shows the distinctive features of an organization which differentiates it from others (Rousseau, 2000). Geert Hofstede identified culture as the collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one group for those of another. According to Hofstede, culture
According to (Organic Workspaces, n. d) an organization’s culture refers to the observable, powerful forces in any organization, usually constituted by the employees’ shared values, beliefs, symbols, and behaviors. The organizational culture ideally influences its decisions and actions (Tharp, n. d). (Watkins, 2013) also defines organizational culture as a consistent and observable pattern of behavior in organizations. An organization’s culture channelizes individual decisions and actions at a subconscious level, and thus, can have a potent effect on an organization’s success. Organizational cultures facilitate the existence of a common ground for all stakeholders, particularly the employees and managers in addressing various issues within an organization. It reduces uncertainty thus providing a sense of direction and vision for the organization. Organization’s cultures can be observable in its people, processes and products as well as leadership’s embraced values in shaping its operations.
Power is an essential in Organizational Behavior. According to the authors (Uhl-Bien, Schermerhorn Jr., Osborn, 2013), power is the ability of an individual or group to influence or control others in any sort of aspect. Power is classified into two categories; one being position power which stems from the formal hierarchy or authority that comes with the specific position or role and two personal power which resides in the individual themselves and generates relationships with others (Uhl-Bien, Schermerhorn Jr., Osborn, 2013). There are many ways individuals respond to power.
Defining culture has always been a debatable topic, however culture can be determined by consistent observable patterns of behavior in organizations, or as Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do,” (Watkins, Michael D, 2013.) Organizational culture relates to long existing shared beliefs and values within an organization and executed by staff. An organization’s culture influences employees, business success, profitability and so much more. Managers adjust leadership behaviors to accomplish the goals and missions envisioned by the organization; employees then follow suit under the direction of their managers. An organization with a strong organizational culture uses their culture to their advantage creating success.
According to our textbook numerous authors have different definitions for organizational culture. One definition from Pizer and Hartel defines organizational culture as “Shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a social group” (pg. 93). I define organizational culture as a group of individuals who share the same traits, they don’t have to be of the same race, ethnicity, or culture but have the same concepts of how they want to accomplish goals and agree unanimously how to implement those goals in order to succeed. Having the same values could mean in my opinion having the same values when it comes to tradition and how we each look up to our cultures. Shared assumptions means that cultures have the same way of thinking and taking on messages, and finally beliefs is what we as individuals have faith in what we believe to be right and wrong, how we live our lives should be carried on.
According to (Organic Workspaces, n. d) an organization’s culture refers to the observable, powerful forces in any organization, usually constituted by the employees’ shared values, beliefs, symbols, and behaviors. The organizational culture ideally influences its decisions and actions (Tharp, n. d). (Watkins, 2013) also defines organizational culture as a consistent and observable pattern of behavior in organizations. An organization’s culture channelizes individual decisions and actions at a subconscious level, and thus, can have a potent effect on an organization’s success. Organizational cultures facilitate the existence of a common ground for all stakeholders, particularly the employees and managers in addressing various issues within an organization. It reduces uncertainty thus providing a sense of direction and vision for the organization. Organization’s cultures can be observable in its people, processes and products as well as leadership’s embraced values in shaping its operations.
The concept of organizational culture is one of the most debated topics for researchers and theorists. There is no one accepted definition of culture. People even said that it is hard to define culture and even more change it. It is considered a complex part of an organization although many have believed that culture influences employee behavior and organizational effectiveness (Kilmann, Saxton, & Serpa 1985; Marcoulides & Heck, 1993; Schein, 1985a, 1990).