Organizational Culture
Organizational Culture Analysis
Lauri Simmons
BUS610: Organizational Behavior
October 15, 2012
Every society has a culture that drives their core values, beliefs, and actions. Culture provides a social system and creates a sense of identity (Baack, 2012). Within each culture are multiple subcultures. Subcultures, according to Baack (2012) differentiate a subgroup from the larger group to which it belongs. This also holds true for all organizations.
Baack (2012) describes three levels of culture that influence behaviors in organizations: observable artifacts, espoused values, and enacted values. Observable artifacts include the physical signs of an organization's dominant culture; espoused values are the explicitly stated values and norms found in organizations; the values and norms exhibited as employee and managerial behaviors are enacted values (Baack, 2012).
One of the largest organizations with a strong culture and multiple subcultures is the military. Although the military requires its personnel to commit to certain core values and beliefs, many cultural layers further differentiate the individual branches of the military. The military consists of five active-duty services and their respective Guard and Reserve units. These include the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. All branches are equal parts of the United States Uniformed Services, headed by the president as commander in chief. To join the military, you must be between 18 and 34 years old ; or 17 years old with parental consent.
Even though there are many cultural differences between the various branches of the military, each with their own values and expectations, there are also many cultural similarities. For instance, the military a whole has experienced a couple important paradigm shifts over the years. First, joining the military is now voluntary, whereas in the past, a draft was in effect. Second is the representation of women in all branches of the
Lauri Simmons
BUS610: Organizational Behavior
October 15, 2012
Every society has a culture that drives their core values, beliefs, and actions. Culture provides a social system and creates a sense of identity (Baack, 2012). Within each culture are multiple subcultures. Subcultures, according to Baack (2012) differentiate a subgroup from the larger group to which it belongs. This also holds true for all organizations.
Baack (2012) describes three levels of culture that influence behaviors in organizations: observable artifacts, espoused values, and enacted values. Observable artifacts include the physical signs of an organization's dominant culture; espoused values are the explicitly stated values and norms found in organizations; the values and norms exhibited as employee and managerial behaviors are enacted values (Baack, 2012).
One of the largest organizations with a strong culture and multiple subcultures is the military. Although the military requires its personnel to commit to certain core values and beliefs, many cultural layers further differentiate the individual branches of the military. The military consists of five active-duty services and their respective Guard and Reserve units. These include the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. All branches are equal parts of the United States Uniformed Services, headed by the president as commander in chief. To join the military, you must be between 18 and 34 years old ; or 17 years old with parental consent.
Even though there are many cultural differences between the various branches of the military, each with their own values and expectations, there are also many cultural similarities. For instance, the military a whole has experienced a couple important paradigm shifts over the years. First, joining the military is now voluntary, whereas in the past, a draft was in effect. Second is the representation of women in all branches of the