Organizational Culture In Action

`In a cogent and easily accessible style, it provides superb guidelines for observing, interpreting, and understanding the subtle and complex nuances of an organization′s culture. The integration of qualitative research methods with cultural analyses makes this text distinctive and valuable addition to any organizational communication class′ - Linda Putnam, Texas A&M University `The authors skillfully weave together theory, application, and their professional experiences to create a wonderfully useful book that meets the needs of students and practitioners. Anyone who takes cultural analysis seriously should read this book′ - Phillip G Clampitt, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Metacomm `Organizational Culture in Action fills a real resource gap. It is a "workbook" in the most positive sense of the word. It offers enough step-by-step guidance to give students the confidence they need to move forward independently. At the same time, it does not sidestep the theoretical complexities, conflicts, and confusions surrounding the world of organizational culture and cultural analysis. The book is well conceived, usefully structured, and filled with application exercises that really make sense and are pedagogically justified. My students found it to be both accessible and stimulating′ - John Gribas, Idaho State University What is organizational culture? And how might knowledge of culture improve our organizational performances? This stimulating workbook guides students through data collection, analysis, interpretation, and application of organizational culture data using a practical five-step process. It begins by explaining theories on which organizational culture is based. It then provides guides for gathering information to help improve organizational performance. Based on more than 20 years of experience in using this approach with hundreds of students, the authors help students apply cultural insights to fostering diversity, supporting organizational change, making leadership more dynamic, exploring the link between ethics and culture, and making organizations more effective overall.

This book is a practical guide to eoereadinge the culture of organizations and to understanding the implications of culture for organizational effectiveness.Beginning with an explanation of the theories of organizational culture, the book provides guidance on collecting information, leading students through qualitative research methods of observation, interviewing, and analyzing written texts. Students come away equipped to apply cultural insights to fostering diversity, supporting organizational change, making leadership more dynamic, understanding the link between ethics and culture, and achieving personal growth.

Offering students and practitioners an applied approach to the subject, Organizational Culture in Action (OCA) walks them through a six-step model for analyzing an organization’s culture to provide insight into positive communication practices to improve organizational ethics and effectiveness. The authors review relevant theory while integrating a constitutive approach to studying organizational culture and communication. Practical guides for multiple data collection methods are provided, and the workbook format is full of interactive tools that engage students and reinforce learning. The revised OCA cultural analysis model in this edition provides the below elements. • The revised first step in the model – "articulating the value of cultural analysis" includes connections to public relations and crisis management. • A definition of communication and the analysis process that foregrounds ethics throughout the book is included. • Recent research on organizational moral learning is integrated in the ethics chapter, and throughout the book. • The Communicative Constitutive of Organizations is now foregrounded throughout the book, and reflected in a table capturing variable and metaphor approaches to culture. • The latest applied research is integrated in units on diversity, change, leadership, and effectiveness in relation to positive organizational communication. • Enriched guides on multiple data collection methods now includes surveys. • Cases, examples, and applications relevant to crisis, employee engagement, virtual organizations, conflict management, and public relations are provided. Professionals come away equipped to apply cultural insights to fostering inclusiveness in relation to diversity, supporting organizational change, making leadership more dynamic, understanding the link between ethics and culture, and achieving personal and professional growth.

Values, attitudes, and behaviors constitute an organization’s culture and employees both share and use them on a daily basis in their work. This book aims to briefly portray a new interpretation of organizational culture varying from the profusion of literature in the following ways: it attempts to include how cultures are created organically or through consistent planning and action in different organizations such as education, business, and health; focusing more on change, innovation, and learning opportunities. It also aims to provide leaders with experiences and reflections on how to initiate an organizational culture change. Finally, this book is expected to extend new perspectives and practices for both potential and actual managers of organizations contributing to the current debate on how to transform organizations into innovative and learning cultures.

This book is a practical guide to "reading" the culture of organizations and to understanding the implications of culture for organizational effectiveness. Beginning with an explanation of the theories of organizational culture, the book provides guidance on collecting information, leading students through qualitative research methods of observation, interviewing, and analyzing written texts. Students come away equipped to apply cultural insights to fostering diversity, supporting organizational change, making leadership more dynamic, understanding the link between ethics and culture, and achieving personal growth.

Revised edition of the author's Organizational culture in action, c2011.

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