Advanced Organizational Psychology
Discussion Questions
Chapter 14
1.
What are some of the difficulties present in trying to study Organizational Culture?
2.
If we view this class as an organization, how does it culture differ from other classes you are currently taking? Could you examine the differences in terms of Schein’s 3 levels of culture
(1 – artifacts, technology, & behavior patterns, 2 – shared values, 3 – basic assumptions)?
3.
Give me an example of a subculture (specific, not one of Janson’s 6 general categories).
How are subcultures formed?
4.
How do you think the Denison model can be used to diagnose an organization’s culture?
5.
Organizations are manifested in many ways. How are they manifested in terms of symbols and artifacts? Could you use UWF or your work environments as an example? How do rituals such as hazing (in fraternities) or other types of rituals or rites affect an org’s culture?
Examples: Tenure process, rookie camp, induction ceremonies, etc.
6.
How do legends serve to maintain an organization’s culture? (Disney is a good example).
What about Language (e.g., Disney’s use of terms like Cast members and guests, or the
Navy’s use of acronyms)?
7.
How does having a specific org culture aid in the organization adapting to the external environment (market)?
8.
How does a founder shape the culture of an organization? Think of examples like Walt
Disney, Bill Gates, Colonel Sanders, etc.
9.
What are some ways to measure an organizational culture (e.g., self-report, ethnography, cognitive maps)? What are the metrics used? What are some of the drawbacks of these techniques?
10.
Why would you ever want to change an org’s culture? Why might it be difficult to do so?
11.
What are some of the culture differences between excellent and unsuccessful organizations?
12.
How would you describe the relationship between organizational culture and job satisfaction?