Talking and Writing

49 It will be educating for a student to find out that the kind of atmosphere and industrial relationships in a business or agency is referred to as corporate culture. So far, there are 4 clear types of corporate cultures. There can also be a mix of all four. Now, read the four descriptions and grasp the gist.

1. Power Culture In this culture self-reliant and highly competitive self-development provides the basis of relations. Manager's success is related to his/her charisma and influence, rather than to his/her knowledge and experience. The style of the chief executive is the model for other managers. In the organisation of this type managers shall be tough-minded and aggressive.	2. Role Culture In this culture manager's role is completely related to his/her place within a centralised system. His/her success depends on how well this manager adheres to rules, procedures, and precedents. Individualism and aggression are not valued in this culture. Employees in such an organisation should not get out of the limits of their roles.
3. Task Culture In organisation of this type they value everything that makes it possible to get the work done. The main concern in such an organisation is with successful fulfilment of their projects. Manager's success is related to his/her knowledge and experience required to achieve tasks, rather than to meet the requirements of his/her role.	4. Individual Culture In an organisation of this type the most possible freedom of expression is valued. Effectiveness of any activity in such an organisations is rated by how much the activity satisfies the staff, rather than by how well it conforms with business plan. Independence, creativity, and experiment are also valued in this organisation.

50 Now imagine that you and your friend once worked at the same department of a government agency. You both resigned before the department was transformed into a commercial company. You are working for a newspaper now and recently visited a business entity with an intention to write an article about its success or current business problems. You were amazed to find out that it is your "old department" with all your old work-mates now taking new ranks and holding new positions.

Sample Organigram of a Company

Assistant Manager

General Manager (Chief Executive Officer)

Research and Development Director

Officers reporting

to the General Manager

Office Manager

Finance Director

Sales Director

Personnel Manager

Production Director

Support Staff

Receptionist

Data Entry Clerk/Typist

Office Cleaner

Security Guard

Driver

Imagine that the archetypes above are your ex-work-mates and (randomly) distribute all of the 13 characters among the company’s ranks and positions. Work out a similar organigram for this company with names. Now, let's say, you meet your friend socially over a cup of coffee and break the news about your recent encounter. He/she is, understandably, interested and has a lot of questions about the atmosphere in the company and each of the people working there. Act out this conversation in paired practice. The sample questions below can be of help.

1. Who works where and in what capacity?

2. What first impression does each give?	7. How do they treat their superiors?
3. What do you think are their roles on the work team?	8. How do they handle their inferiors?
4. What are their attitudes to that work like?	9. How do they use opportunities?
5. What is the atmosphere they create in the group?	10. How do they act in confrontations?
6. What sort of a boss would each make?

51 Some of the characters might have been put in the settings and positions where they could be a square peg in a round hole. What would be the places and posts where their interests would be more or best catered for? Which jobs are they most suited to? Where do they feel most at home, do you think?

52 Refrain from the idea that you are in any way related to the company in question and work out an article to follow this discussion. Write whether the company is successful or, reversely, going under. Focus on its corporate culture, general atmosphere and whether it is oriented towards success. Write about the people who lead and boost the company, or, vice versa, hamper its operation; if the employees are happy in their jobs and hold work dear. Conclude if this business should owe its status quo to its staff. See the tips on article in Unit 2 Part 1 before writing.

Role-play

53 Imagine you work for an international organisation engaged in educational projects in developing countries. Now, it needs to make up a team of teachers to go to a remote quarter somewhere on Earth. You are put in charge of recruiting the staff, but you are staying in this country. You talk to a school head master/mistress who can afford to give you some names of teachers who might be covered, but the head teacher refuses to let others go as they are indispensable. It is logical to presume that those few won't make up a team – there must be somebody to take charge, somebody capable of analytical thinking, someone economical and good with his hands, and a level-headed peacemaker. All of them must be experts in their fields of learning.
Pair off in your group. Assume roles and try to work out a solution. If there aren't any other lists of characters, take the 13 human archetypes from the text.
The school head master elicits a list of four names, gives those workers favourable references and details of their qualifications.
Those candidates must be checked. You have to see their photos. Over the conversation you discover some of their alarming personal traits. You finally feel that those candidates must be replaced. The project calls for a more scrupulous staffing policy, etc. After an extensive conversation you report to the class if a compromise has been achieved and how an acceptable solution was worked out.

54

Let’s say you work on a project. According to the Project Activity Schedule you hold a conference, which should have closed on Friday. However, its proceedings have been extended until next Monday and the participants are staying for the weekend. So, the project team feels obliged to arrange some social programme for the attendees.
Now there is the Project Manager and you, the Leading Expert. You rack your brains over what you can suggest and whom. You have made acquaintance with all of the people and have an idea of their personalities. The manager sits on the money and he/she will decide what the Project can afford for certain groups and individuals.
Invent some characters (the portraits below can be of help), or take the old ones. Think of what will be suitable for the staying conference participants and negotiate the opportunities with the manager, make decisions about tomorrow’s itineraries and then share your ideas with the class.

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