...IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN AN ORGANIZATION In any organization, what each individual brings into the work environment in more ways than just their work is of great importance. A new member of staff coming into an organization will come with his/her own past experiences, personality and social habits that could affect the work environment positively or even negatively. And therefore it is very important for any administrator to select the right kind of employee who not only fits the job, but who would also fit in with the work place culture of that particular organization. What Is Culture? Culture is the environment which the organization creates for itself and its employees. It can be likened to a human’s personality which is made up of values, beliefs and behaviours shared by a set of individuals. Culture is however greatly influenced by the founders, directors, CEO’s and managerial staff as they play an important role in decision making as well as strategic planning in an organization. Not only is it greatly influenced by the managers but also by the ones employed into the organization. There are many types of cultures that can be experienced in a working environment, and how the senior staff members balance this could prove to be of vital importance to the organization. Many classifications with regards to types of culture have been made, some of these that you may stumble upon within a working environment include: 1. Eastern Culture Eastern culture...
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...The importance of culture – myths, symbols, arts, science, history. The real question is whether the culture can influence the way we think and experience the world. Clearly we have to realize that the culture is something that lies within us, around us, and is an integral part of our being. It defines the way we treat others and ourselves. Culture forms an important element of social life of a man. It gives the individuals or groups the feelings of unity with the group. What exactly is culture, anyway? Term "culture" is based on a term used by the Ancient Roman orator Cicero in his Tusculanae Disputationes, where he included a cultivation of the soul or “cultura animi” using an agricultural metaphor for the development of a philosophical soul, understood theologically as the highest possible ideal for human development. In Latin “culture” is “cultus agri”, which is crop land, in other words, a subjugation of nature by a man. The meaning of this phrase developed gradually, from its simplicity to a more complex form. It includes everything that has been ever made by a particular group of people, independently of a material world (architecture, clothes) but also a spiritual one. Just a single person simply cannot create culture, so we can talk about the beginnings of culture from the moment when our ancestors started to form groups. Originally culture was passed on as thoughts and ideas, but then with invention of symbolism also art and science. It is permanent but also constantly...
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...Importance of the culture of science Scientific development, prosperity and welfare are dedicated to all men of all nations. The culture of science is inevitable as one of the tools of gradual development of civilization in fields, like food, cloth home, medical treatment, education, industrial mills, conveyance and transport, communication and exchange of information, information – management, the extraction of natural wealth and preservation space – research etc. During the middle of the 18th century new industrial mills were established in England with the help of newly discovered machines, steam engine and various kinds of machines. As a result production increasing manifold. This new era of industry is called a industry revolution It has been possible to goods and their sale increased. The following that below: 1. a. The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. b. These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population: Edwardian culture; Japanese culture; the culture of poverty. c. These patterns, traits, and products considered with respect to a particular category, such as a field, subject, or mode of expression: religious culture in the Middle Ages; musical culture; oral culture. d. The predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize the functioning...
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...The Importance of Culture in Theology Although all people have different cultures and backgrounds, we need to emphasize how different these cultures are from each other. When we move into another culture, our natural tendency is to judge it with our own beliefs and practices. We would see things that we do not understand or comprehend, whereas of course it would make sense to people within the culture. It is clear that we must differentiate between the gospel and the cultural media in which it is expressed. If we fail to do so, we would be guilty of equating the gospel with our own cultural values and philosophies. What would happen if we cannot distinguish between sins defined by the bible and by our culture? What would happen if the cultural definition of sin changes over time, as it very often does? It was once sinful to wear lipstick for many Christians, but now it is a widely accepted practice. Musical instruments were once banned from church, but now we praise God with them. Why not accept adultery when our society condones it? However, the bible clearly warns that it is sinful. The gospel is distinct from culture, but it must be expressed in a cultural mold to be understood by men. It must be accurately translated into each culture so that people may understand and believe. Many biblical customs can only be understood in terms of their cultural and time. The practice of taking several wives was cultural accepted in the Old Testament, but we cannot say that is...
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...Importance Of IT Culture In Business Management Information Systems Everest University August 4, 2012 No business in today’s age of the World Wide Web can survive without some form of IT culture built-in. Just about all transactions, accounting, and even scheduling is computerized making the business more efficient in this modern information age. IT is all around and is never going away as our culture, economy, and businesses depend on it extensively. Technology advancements are popping up daily and it is the job of the IT culture to apply them to needs of the business and aide the business with adjustments to changes. The phrase IT Culture in my view is not only an expert in the ways of computer technology but people who understand how to use the tools that IT provides the business to make it more efficient and less costly to run that business. An accountant running accounting software such as QuickBooks is in the IT culture because he or she is trained in running that specialized software. Converting that data to usable forms for all levels of an organization is done with software programs designed for different purposes based on the needs of the organization. What makes the IT Culture essential? The first reason is the knowledge to deal with the quick changes that come with the overflow of information that each person and business are bombarded with daily and even in shorter periods with instant updates and JIT systems. Second reason...
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...It's hard to say as to which one represents the other. Is it the culture that gives the people and the place the identity, or is it the people who compose the culture of the place? It is tough to conclude. Considering India, it has been divided into different states based on the languages spoken. In a way, we are drawing an imaginary boundary and labelling the area depending on few aspects. When closely observed, all these states, apart from language, have their own set of cultures and traditions. It can also be debated the other way round. It is these cultures that give the place the identity it has today. For people who think that such distribution and division should not be done, India as a whole represents the culture followed by majority of people living in it, that is...
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...Organizational culture is a set of different value system which can help an organization to run itself and run a successful business Schhneider (1983). Organizational culture helps employees to understand the functioning of the organizations by sharing its norms, values and rules and regulation of organization (Deshpande and Webster, 1989). According to(Lok& Crawford, 2004) organizational culture has remarkable effect on employee’s commitment and performance. If the employees of the organization have more understanding with the organizational culture they will have more job Satisfaction (Chang and Lee, 2007). O’Reilly and Chatman’s (1996) defined organization culture is a setup of behavior, attitude and values. According to Hertzberg (1959) in his study job satisfaction is a part of employee job, if it affect positively it motivate employee to job satisfaction otherwise it leads to job dissatisfaction. Job satisfaction is emotional ability of employee related to positive and negative aspect of its job experiences Locke (1969). Environment of organization and employee’s personal traits can influence its job satisfaction...
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...Tackling the Confucian culture Culture is something that we cannot build or demolish in one day. It takes a long time to change our Confucian culture into a Christian culture. If it is difficult to establish the system for the lay ministry in one day, it is even more difficult to change the Confucian culture. It is a problem that has to be resolved by time. Culture comes from the viewpoint of value that asks “What is good?” We must establish a value system in the church with a Christian viewpoint, which obviously is better that that of Confucianism. Now, among the Confucian teachings, respecting authority is a good value. This is a Christian value as well. It certainly is a problem when someone loves exercising his authority. Yet we...
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...Going to school in not just a unfamiliar state, but a different geographical area gives you opportunities to see how accounting, engineering, nursing, and more works on this opposite side of the country. HBCU’s will always teach you about your culture, but you will never truly grasp and take pride in one’s culture until you look at someone else’s. “There is an initial peculiarity in arriving someplace where no one is familiar with you or where you come from. Through this fear, you are motivated to learn about others’ diverse backgrounds, and to teach others about yours” (‘Pros and Cons”1) Many Africans-Americans graduated from a black majority high school, so HBCU’s will not allow them out of their comfort zone and cause a lack of individuality among black students. Predominately white school’s various locations enable awareness, curiosity, individuality and more of what students are not common too at home. Therefore, PWI graduates are very versatile and have been taught the skills to work in multiple...
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...Why do people act the way they do? A simple question, but a vital one if you are interested in understanding the reasons for why a certain group of people have a particular culture – the values, beliefs, underlying assumptions, attitudes, and behaviors shared by a group of people. In order to have a more tangible, stronger grasp of the underlying causes that influence the actions of people, a firm grasp and study of the liberal arts of a country is extremely helpful, if not necessary. Consequently, the benefits are tremendous – not only will it help understand the actions and beliefs of a group of people that may be completely different from yours, it will also help you predict and understand what sort of behavior is accepted or shunned. Furthermore, having a firm understanding of the liberal arts of another country is extremely useful in the business setting, as businesses are naturally influenced by the culture of the people who run them. Any business person working in international settings should develop some sort of understanding of the culture of the country they are working with – it will help in...
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...different cultures is becoming the norm. Although this brings many rewards it also introduces challenges for both workers and management alike. All managers know that motivating their staff is the key to a successful business. To do this, they must understand what drives their staff. But what if their staff, seem to think and behave in unexpected ways? This can happen when people from very different cultures work together. Organizations are beginning to realize the importance of training their managers to become intercultural competent in order to ensure their staff continue to be motivated and productive. 1. Managing culture / making culture work for you An understanding of culture in organizations can offer insights into individual and group behavior, and leadership. It can help to explain not...
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...The Importance of Understanding Culture in International Business | Business Management in an International Context | | The increasing number of interactions between independent countries, companies and people has highlighted the importance of an understanding of global cultures, both national and organisational. Culture plays a large role in the way individuals behave and interact with one another and therefore plays an important role in business interactions across cultures. Many definitions of culture are offered, but one more relevant to culture in international business is : “Culture is the way in which a group of people solves problems and reconciles dilemmas.” (E.Schein 1985) The first way in which countries can be broadly categorized is into either a high context or a low context culture. High context cultures place more emphasis on the importance of group identity. They have a high sensory involvement and participate more readily in bodily contact. Low context cultures prioritise individualistic properties. They use body language less frequently and are monochronic thus placing a high importance on timing and scheduling. Most Northern European countries and other western societies are low context cultures. It has been suggested by the acclaimed social scientist, Norbert Elias (1978) that the development of society and the basis of its’ cultural contexts are closely associated with the prominent historical groups of the region leading to an establishment...
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...Importance of Understanding Culture Diversity in the Workplace Jennifer Schulz Devry University Cultural Diversity in the Professions SOCS350 William Tutol January 10, 2014 Importance of Understanding Culture Diversity in the Workplace In business today it is important to have a diverse group of employees in the workplace. Our textbook defines diversity as real or perceived differences among people in race, ethnicity, sex, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion, work and family status, weight and appearance, and other identity-based attributes that affect their interactions and relationships (Bell, 2012, p. 5). It is very important to understand the cultural, ethnical, and gender differences by professionals and management in the workforce in this day and age. If an organization develops a reputation for valuing all types of employees, it will become known as an employer of choice, in which workers from all backgrounds feel they have the opportunity to work, grow, and be treated fairly (Bell, 2012, p. 4). By being diverse in its employees, a business has a better opportunity for new ideas and growth potential and less likely to be stymied. Despite extraordinary corporate and media attention paid to diversity in the past thirty years, discrimination, inequality, and exclusion persist in organizations (Bell, 2012, p. 4). As discussed this week in class, when the department head turned down the Jamaican friend for the position, even though he seemed...
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...The importance of culture to the success of non-profit organizations There are three different sectors of industry: private, public (government) and non-profit. The non-profit sector’s purpose is simple, no matter what type of business it is they serve to meet the needs the private and public sectors lack thereof (McDonald). Most non-profit organizations (NPO) are programs that cater to the community or serve people in order to improve the quality of life or are seeking social change. By being socially responsible of others nonprofits are breaking down barriers to build a better global community. Non-profits exist in almost every industry or line of work. Some popular ones are women’s rights, animal rights, environment awareness, health, and community development. When there is a cause and a group of people willing to work for it, a non-profit organization can be formed. They range in size, from a small local organization of just a few members, to nationally recognized organizations with several locations domestic and international. Non-profits are known for having unique cultures compared to for-profit and government organizations because there is some form of moral compass driving the purpose of the NPO versus the sole purpose to make money. Culture in the workplace is essential to the success of nonprofits because it lays the foundation for the direction of the organization based on similar beliefs and values and it is the determinant of the behavior or actions of...
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...Best Buy - The Importance of Organizational Culture and Change Organizational cultures that can be a liability to an organization include those that create barriers to change, create barriers to diversity or barriers to mergers and acquisitions. (Robbins, S. P. 2011) Organizational cultures are also good for change and revitalization of a company. This paper will provide background information on Best Buy and the ROWE (Results-Only Work Environment) Program. This paper will describe the culture of Best Buy. This paper will also discuss the approach to organizational change that the ROWE program illustrates. This case has sources of stress and this paper will discuss the sources that are apparent in the case. Changes have occurred and this paper will discuss whether the organizational culture has helped with the change. Describe the culture of Best Buy Best Buy’s culture has changed. The old culture embraced long hours. Managers rewarded those employees who were first in the building and the last to leave the building with tokens of appreciation. One employee earned a bonus and a vacation when he stayed up three days in a row to complete a report that was suddenly due. Yet, he was hospitalized due to the stress. The new culture revitalized Best Buy and changed how most employees view work. Employees thanked the organizers for allowing them to have a better home-work life balance. One employee was considering resigning after the birth of her child, but with the new...
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