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The Importance Of Managing Culture In Organizations

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Introduction:
In today's global economy, working with people from 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 …show more content…
Optimists believe culture can be managed; pessimists deny that it can be, according to Ogbonna and Harris (2002).
They claim that optimists are often business oriented people, who optimistically see the culture of an organization as being unified and unitary. On the other hand, pessimists are often academically or theoretically oriented, and more interested in explanations than practical utility.
Realists, however, can see both sides of the debate. They are often interested in exploring culture change and are ready to admit some influence ă if not control - of culture.
2.1 Difficulties in managing culture
 Management of culture is difficult if there is no agreement on what culture is - and culture can be viewed in an enormous variety of ways.
 The complexity of culture can lead organizations to attempt "quick fixes" that are superficial.
 Value-laden judgements on what is the "right" culture for organizations, without taking into account the unique environments in which they exist, can also make success difficult for managers.

2. How cultural influences working

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