Organisation cultures

Culture = "the way we do things around here"

=> the beliefs, norms, values and typical patterns of behaviour that are adhered to by a particular group

Although different cultures are to some extent simultaneously present in different parts of the organisation, one or two cultures usually predominate.

Example of how this can translate into various types of artefacts: public sector: formal, structured proposals // private sector: PowerPoint presentations

2 useful models of corporate cultural difference, both based on the original research by Roger Harrison:

The first one stems from a collaboration between Roger Harrison, Geof Cox and Walt Hopkins. It describes 4 cultural types: Role, Control, Goal and Soul.

A Summary of the 4 cultures

	CONTROL	ROLE	GOAL	SOUL
My priority is my...	Boss	Duty	Task	People
Decisions come from the...	Boss	Policy	Goal	Consensus
Authority comes from...	Power	Seniority	Expertise	Wisdom
The system is...	Autocratic	Bureaucratic	Charismatic	Democratic
People are...	Stratified	Inter-changeable	Unique	Equal
Myths are about the...	Boss	Organisation	Champions	Team
The world is a...	Jungle	System	Opportunity	Community
As a boss I expect...	Obedience	Reliability	Competence	Co-operation
As an employee I expect...	Reward	Security	Challenge	Support
Interaction between people is based on...	Exchange	Reason	Values	Sharing
Interaction between organisations is based on...	Conquest	Function	Competition	Networking
People succeed by knowing the...	Boss	System	Resources	People
We go out in the world prepared for...	Battle	Debate	Game	Learning
People work for...	Reward	Contract	Achievement	Enjoyment
Instinctive reaction to a customer...	Deal	Explain	Connect	Listen

The Second one, developed by Charles Handy, describes different types of cultures by drawing analogies to Greek Gods:

Eiffel Tower / power culture: central power source, somebody at the centre of the organisation (Zeus / mafia Don / godfather)
Guided missiles / role culture: bureaucratic processes, procedures. Commitment. Rationality, logic. (Apollo, god of reason)
Incubators / team culture: experts prevail. Matrix structure. (Athena, war goddess)
Family/person culture: emphasize on relationship between individuals. Harmony. (Dyonysos)

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