ABSTRACT
Organizational culture is a complex and deep aspect of organizations that can strongly affect organization members. It includes the values, norms, rites, rituals, ceremonies, heroes, and scoundrels in the organization’s history. Key aspects of organizational culture include value sharing and a structuring of experiences in an organization. Different sets of values can coexist among different groups of people throughout an organization. This chapter discusses the concept of organizational culture and the functions and dysfunctions of organizational culture. It analyzes organizational culture effects on one as an individual. The chapter distinguishes different dimensions of organizational culture. It describes the different levels at which we experience an organization’s culture. The chapter also describes cultural symbolism and the relationship between organizational culture and organizational performance. It explains the issues involved in creating, maintaining, and changing organizational culture. The chapter considers some international and ethical issues raised by organizational cultures.
