What is Organizational Culture?
An executive was once asked what he thought organizational culture meant. He gave essentially the same answer U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart gave in defining pornography: “I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it.” We have all felt an indescribable essence about the organizations we’ve experienced. The pervasive atmosphere can have a strong and measurable impact on behavior. Let’s begin discussing this important element of organizational behavior (OB) by exploring the parameters of the phenomenon.
A Definition of Organizational Culture
Organizational culture refers to a system of shared meaning held by members that distinguishes the organization from other organizations.1 Seven primary characteristics ...
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