Organizational culure

while a discussion of orgnizational culture is beyond the scope of this course (See TMAN 633), it has such a dynamic impact on the way that employees behave, interact, perform and on the manner in which they are treated that it at least be mentioned in relation to Category 5 of Baldrige. If interested in learning more, see the overview article below.

Reflecting on the information contained in the article, please consider the following four examples of different types of corporate cultures. What culture best describes your work and why? Which culture do you think is best suited for a high performance work system?

Academy Culture

Employees are highly skilled and tend to stay in the organization, while working their way up the ranks. The organization provides a stable environment in which employees can development and exercise their skills. Examples are universities, hospitals, large corporations, etc.

Baseball Team Culture

Employees are “free agents” who have highly prized skills. They are in high demand and can rather easily get jobs elsewhere. This type of culture exists in fast-paced, high-risk organizations, such as investment banking, advertising, etc.

Club Culture

The most important requirement for employees in this culture is to fit into the group. Usually employees start at the bottom and stay with the organization. The organization promotes from within and highly values seniority. Examples are the military, some law firms, etc.

Fortress Culture

Employees don’t know if they’ll be laid off or not. These organizations often undergo massive reorganization.