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Organizational Culture in Action
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Organizational Culture in Action
A Cultural Analysis Workbook

Second Edition


November 2010 | 256 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
`Applying the metaphor of method acting, this workbook is an essential primer for classes in communication and organizational culture. In a cogent and easily accessible style, it provides superb guidelines for observing, interpreting, and understanding the subtle and complex nuances of an organization's culture. The integration of qualitative research methods with cultural analyses makes this text distinctive and valuable addition to any organizational communication class' - Linda Putnam, University of California, Santa Barbara

Based on more than 20 years of experience the authors help students apply cultural insights to fostering diversity, supporting organizational change, making leadership more dynamic, exploring the link between ethics and culture, and making organizations more effective overall.

Unique to Organizational Culture in Action are the various examples the authors have included, which are taken from their consulting experience with more than 150 organizations. An example analysis from a student has also been included to show novice researchers how they too can improve their organizational performance using this workbook.

 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
Part I. CULTURAL ANALYSIS PLANNING
 
1. Introduction: Setting the Stage
Rehearsal 1.1 Applying the Drama Metaphor

 
Rehearsal 1.2 Determining Your Purposes for a Cultural Analysis

 
Rehearsal 1.3 Identifying an Organization

 
Rehearsal 1.4 Method Acting and Getting Real

 
 
2. The Significance of the Stage
Rehearsal 2.1 Creativity and Constraint

 
Rehearsal 2.2 The Value of a Cultural Analysis

 
Rehearsal 2.3 The Value of a Culture Analysis

 
 
Part II. CULTURAL ANALYSIS BASICS
 
3. Step One--Understanding the Concept of Culture: Constructing the Set
Rehearsal 3.1 How Do You Define Culture?

 
Rehearsal 3.2 Playing With Metaphors

 
Rehearsal 3.3 Writing a Cultural Analysis Proposal

 
 
4. Step Two--Identifying Cultural Elements: Understanding Roles
Rehearsal 4.1 Exploring Websites

 
Rehearsal 4.2 Getting More From Our Stories

 
Rehearsal 4.3 A Game of Metaphors

 
 
Part III. CULTURAL DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION
 
5. Method Acting: Textual Analysis
Rehearsal 5.1 Selecting Texts for Analysis

 
Rehearsal 5.2 Content Analysis

 
Rehearsal 5.3 Critical Linguistic Analysis

 
 
6. Method Acting: Observation
Rehearsal 6.2 A Potpourri of Things to Observe in Cultural Analysis

 
Rehearsal 6.3 Alien Culture Observation

 
Rehearsal 6.4 Note-Taking Guidelines

 
 
7. Method Acting: Interviews and Surveys
Rehearsal 7.1 Sample Interview Questions for “Reading” a Culture

 
Rehearsal 7.2 Alien Culture Interviews/Surveys

 
 
8. Step Four--Synthesizing and Interpreting Cultural Data: Getting Inside the Character
Rehearsal 8.1 Finding a Theme

 
Rehearsal 8.2 A Practice Stage

 
Rehearsal 8.3 Reliability/Validity Check

 
Rehearsal 8.4 Cultural Analysis Write-Up Guides

 
 
Part IV. CULTURAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION
 
9. Casting Against Type: Diversity
Rehearsal 9.2 Are You a Privileged Member of Your Organizational Culture?

 
Rehearsal 9.2 Diversity Survey

 
 
10. Improvisation: Managing Change
Rehearsal 10.1 Forces Driving Change

 
Rehearsal 10.2 Adapting Change Messages to the Culture

 
Rehearsal 10.3 A Change Plan

 
Rehearsal 10.4 A Change Case

 
 
11. An Honest Portrayal: Ethics
Rehearsal 11.1 Ethical Heroes

 
Rehearsal 11.2 Applying the Economizing Value Tension

 
Rehearsal 11.3 Applying the Power Distancing Value Tension

 
Rehearsal 11.4 Applying the Ecologizing Value Tension

 
Rehearsal 11.5 Other Value Tensions

 
Rehearsal 11.6 Ethics and Communication Leadership

 
 
7. Method Acting: Interviews and Surveys
Rehearsal 7.1 Sample Interview Questions for “Reading” a Culture

 
Rehearsal 7.2 Alien Culture Interviews/Surveys

 
 
8. Step Four: Synthesizing and Interpreting Cultural Data: Getting Inside the Character
Rehearsal 8.1 Finding a Theme

 
Rehearsal 8.2 A Practice Stage

 
Rehearsal 8.3 Reliability/Validity Check

 
Rehearsal 8.4 Cultural Analysis Write-Up Guides

 
 
Part IV. CULTURAL ANALYSIS APPLICATION
 
9. Casting Against Type: Diversity
Rehearsal 9.2 Are You a Privileged Member of Your Organizational Culture?

 
Rehearsal 9.3 Diversity Survey

 
 
10. Improvisation: Managing Change
Rehearsal 10.1 Forces Driving Change

 
Rehearsal 10.2 Adapting Change Messages to the Culture

 
Rehearsal 10.3 A Change Plan

 
Rehearsal 10.4 A Change Case

 
 
11. An Honest Portrayal: Ethics
Rehearsal 11.1 Ethical Heroes

 
Rehearsal 11.2 Applying the Economizing Value Tension

 
Rehearsal 11.3 Applying the Power Distancing Value Tension

 
Rehearsal 11.4 Applying the Ecologizing Value Tension

 
Rehearsal 11.5 Other Value Tensions

 
Rehearsal 11.6 Ethics and Communication Leadership

 
 
12. The Director’s Chair: Symbolic Leadership
Rehearsal 12.2 Assessing Yourself as a Leader

 
Rehearsal 12.3 Case Study of Cultural Leadership

 
 
13. Reading Reviews: Organizational Effectiveness
Rehearsal 13.1 How Do You Measure Effectiveness?

 
Rehearsal 13.2 Finding the Drawbacks of the Best Fit

 
Rehearsal 13.3 Gauging Effectiveness

 
 
14. Opening Night: Conclusion
Rehearsal 14.1 Action Plan for Professional Communication Development

 
Rehearsal 14.2 Organizational Development Action Plan

 
 
Appendix: Example Student Analysis
 
References
 
Index
 
About the Authors
Rehearsal 6.1 Identifying Six Types of Rites/Rituals

 
Rehearsal 9.1 Assess the Multiculturism of Your Organization

 
Rehearsal 12.1 Identifying Leader Reframing Practices

 

Supplements

Student Study Site

An open-access student study site includes:

  • E-Flashcards: This study tool reinforces student understanding of key terms and concepts that have been outlined in the chapters.
  • SAGE Journal Articles: A “Learning from SAGE Journal Articles” feature provides access to recent, relevant full-text articles from SAGE’s leading research journals. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter.
  • Web Resources: These links to relevant websites direct both instructors and students to additional resources for further research on important chapter topics.
  • Web Quizzes: Flexible self-quizzes allow students to independently assess their progress in learning course material.
  • Example Papers: These "executive summary" focused reports and papers provide a fuller discussion of methods and data. Some papers represent the work of an individual student, whereas others are dyad or team based projects.
Instructor Teaching Site

A password-protected instructor teaching site includes:

  • Discussion Questions: Chapter-specific questions help launch discussion by prompting students to engage with the material, and by reinforcing important content.
  • Essay Questions: Essay questions for every chapter will aid instructors in assessing students’ progress and understanding.

"This workbook does a tremendous job of making a lot of complex information easy to understand and apply to real situations."

John Gribas
Idaho State University

"Excellent and most applicable for any organization going through restructuring."

Kumiko Watanuki
DePaul University

Still reviewing, would like to add a new course or change text in Capstone.

Dr Michele Kegley
Business & Economics, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
February 19, 2014

Useful for supplementary reading and gaining another aspect of culture.

Mrs Sarah Harper
Hotel Tourism & Retail Management, Robert Gordon University
September 24, 2013

Fantastic book to help students walk through an organizational cultural assessment.

Dr Barbara Clemenson
Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, Case Western Reserve University
November 12, 2011

It's very interesting, but didn't quite work for me.

Dr Lucy Ford
Management / IB, St Josephs University
September 30, 2011

wow what a book!!!. for me as a lecturer it is full of inspiration for teaching. for students it is clear and concise.

Mrs Anne Fenech
Health Sciences, Southampton University
January 28, 2011

Sample Materials & Chapters

Table of Contents

1. Introduction