Organizational Cultures : Types and Transformations

In recent years global trade and telecommunications have rapidly been spreading the influence of large multinational forms of organization. An integral part of this process has been the rise of 'organizational cultures' unique to particular firms. In a world where such cultures are often in conflict with the societies in which they operate how can we understand the workings of cultural patterns and the kinds of transformations they can create? This concise new introductory text provides succint analysis of organizational cultures and types of change they can set in motion. 'culture' is used in an original way to bring together and make sense of cenrtral issues of organizational behaviour. The author explores the way in which forms of culture can influence styles of management, attitudes toward leadership, the level of motivation in the workplace and `hidden agendas' in group dynamics. Organizational Cultures raises the important issue of whether their can be such a thing as a `right decision' for an organization, and brings into focus the major implications and dangers of the growing numbers of supra-national firms both in terms of internal structure and for the context which they function. Throughout, the author succeeds in weaving together behaviour and organization, thus reconciling the traditional divorce between psychology and sociology in the field. Drawing on case studies from Europe, Asia, Africa, Organizational Cultures provides a truly international insight into forms of organizational behaviour. Detailed chapter objectives and summaries are provided to aid progress and self-assessment.