🏢 What is Organizational Culture?
Big Idea: Organizational culture is the shared values, beliefs, norms and behaviours that characterize how people work together in an organization. It is the way we do things here.
- Culture is often unwritten — it is felt rather than formally stated
- It affects how decisions are made, how employees interact, and how change is managed
- A strong culture aligns everyone. A weak or toxic culture causes conflict
- Culture can be a competitive advantage — or a major barrier to change
Apple has a culture of innovation, secrecy and design excellence. This drives product quality but can create intense pressure on employees.
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🔄 Types of Culture
- Power culture — control radiates from a central figure. Fast decisions, but dependent on one person. Common in small businesses
- Role culture — defined by rules, procedures and job descriptions. Stable and predictable but slow to adapt. Common in bureaucracies
- Task culture — teams form around specific tasks or projects. Flexible and creative but can lack structure. Common in consulting and tech
- Person culture — individuals see themselves as more important than the organization. Common in partnerships (law firms, medical practices)
Power = one leader. Role = rules and structure. Task = teams and projects. Person = individual expertise. Know examples for each!