Organisational Culture

This innovative Handbook explores the complexity of cultural, conceptual and definitional issues surrounding research into organisational culture, outlining the varied frameworks and theories that underpin the field.

Regarded as one of the most influential management books of all time, this fourth edition of Leadership and Organizational Culture transforms the abstract concept of culture into a tool that can be used to better shape the dynamics of organization and change. This updated edition focuses on today's business realities. Edgar Schein draws on a wide range of contemporary research to redefine culture and demonstrate the crucial role leaders play in successfully applying the principles of culture to achieve their organizational goals.

In today’s digital environment the workplace is characterised by individuals creating information perhaps independently of formal systems, or establishing new systems without knowledge of information management requirements. This book explains and explores the concept of organisational culture, specifically within the domain of information management. It draws on the author's wide-ranging practical experience in different workplaces and uses research findings from cross-cultural studies of information management. Uses research findings from cross-cultural studies of information management Provides tools to develop practical and realistic solutions to real-world problems Draws on the author’s wide-ranging practical experience in different workplaces.

The strategy team have technology ideas and frameworks that represent the best body of knowledge for creating real business value from technology, but only other teams not the strategy team can create the value, by broadly completing the strategy team s ideas. The delivery teams often ignore the ideas. Sometimes real conflict emerges. It feels like the other teams think differently in a deeply rooted way. Could differences in organisational culture be to blame? This dissertation examines the organisational culture perceived within BP's energy trading technology team known as Integrated Supply and Trading Digital Business (ISTDB). The focus is on the Strategy and Architecture team (S&A) who are responsible for assuring the long-term viability of technology delivered to the business by setting and enforcing technology standards with the technology delivery teams (Regional Businesses or RBs). S&A relies on influence and persuasion to build compliance with the standards as it does not have line management responsibility for the other teams. This research concludes the perception of organisational culture is different between S&A and the RBs, and that it is a cause of conflict. The research also identifies that perceived organisational culture in ISTDB technology team as a whole is non-cohesive and not well aligned with the BP business strategy.This is a suboptimal arrangement for value creation. The author recommends both short-term and long-term shifts in working practices to correct this imbalance. The changes include a new emphasis on communications, new personnel hiring procedures and cross-cultural awareness training.

Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture provides a framework, a sense-making tool, a set of systematic steps, and a methodology for helping managers and their organizations carefully analyze and alter their fundamental culture. Authors, Cameron and Quinn focus on the methods and mechanisms that are available to help managers and change agents transform the most fundamental elements of their organizations. The authors also provide instruments to help individuals guide the change process at the most basic level—culture. Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture offers a systematic strategy for internal or external change agents to facilitate foundational change that in turn makes it possible to support and supplement other kinds of change initiatives.

Organizational Culture and Identity discusses the literature concerned with culture in organizations and explains why the term has been invoked with such enthusiasm. Martin Parker presents further ways of thinking about organizations and culture which suggest that organizational cultures should be seen as `fragmented unities' in which members identify themselves as collective at some times and divided at others.

People from different cultural backgrounds prefer adhering to their own religious beliefs which could restrict treatment options leading to the detriment of health especially if it involves the health of a disabled child. This comprehensive but concise work highlights the problems faced in managing the care of disabled children from different cultural backgrounds. It examines the problems inherent in the medical social and educational management of children with developmental disability in populations whose value systems differ from other cultures. In particular it considers how care may be varied according to cultural background without compromising its quality. The book is of immense value for all healthcare and social care professionals policy makers and shapers patient organisations and those with an interest in medical ethics.

Management of organizational culture is a controversial topic. Pragmatists argue that it can be, should be and has been easily managed and they offer guidance how to do this, whilst purists find it ridiculous to talk about managing organizational culture: it cannot be managed, it evolves. Contributions to this fascinating book cover the following topics: * the relationship between leadership and organizational culture * the study of the role of organizational culture in four distinct cases * a change project of managerial culture * the FOCUS-instrument for measuring organizational culture * the main influences of organizational culture on its individual members * critical questions for future research. The editors do not intend to give final answers to this ongoing discussion, but to contribute to the debate and aid understanding. The contributions guide practitioners and researchers through the complex issues to avoid possible pitfalls.