Section 2. Skills focus. Exercise 1. Read the following information and do the task.

Exercise 1. Read the following information and do the task.

Culture is the “way we do things here”. “Here” may be a country, an area, a social class or an organization such as a company or school. You often talk about:

• Company or corporate culture: the way a particular company works, and the things it believes are important.
• Canteen culture: the way that people in an organization such as the police think and talk, not approved by the leaders of the organization.
• Long-hours culture: where people are expected to work for a long time each day.
• Macho culture: ideas typically associated with men (physical strength, aggressiveness, etc).

Task. Which word combination with ‘ culture’ describes each of the following? Give your reasons.

1. The men really dominate in this company; they don’t make life easy for women at all. All they talk about is football.
2. Among the management here we try to be fair to people from different minorities, but there are still elements of racism among workforce.
3. Of course, the quality of work you do after you’ve been at it for ten hours is not good.
4. There was a time when managers could only wear white shirts in this company – things are a bit less formal now.
5. Here the male managers talk about the market as if it was some kind of battlefield.
6. They say that if you go home at 5.30, you can’t be doing your job properly, but I’m going anyway.

Exercise 2. Answer the following questionnaire which will help you to think about the culture of your companies.

1. In your organization, criticism:

a) is aimed at the task< not the person

b) is only given when asked for

c) is mostly negative and takes the form of blame

d) is avoided because people are frightened of hurting each other

1. In your organization, conflict:

a) is controlled from above

b) is controlled by rules, procedures and definitions of responsibilities

c) is resolved by discussion of work issues

d) is resolved by discussion of personal needs and values

1. In your organization, hierarchies:

a) are unnecessary because each person is working for his or her own professional development

b) are necessary to show who has authority over whom

c) recognize the power and authority of leaders

d) are sometimes useful for getting the job done

1. In your organization, change:

a) comes from above

b) is a question of re-designing rules and procedures

c) is a considered response to changes in objectives

d) is a constant process

1. In your organization, people are motivated:

a) by the possibility of promotion to positions where they have more responsibility

b) by the opportunity to participate in valuable or creative processes

c) by seeing that their work is appreciated

d) by pay or bonuses for goals achieved and problems solved

1. In your organization, most learning takes place:

a) when people are finding practical solutions to problems

b) through analysis and logical thinking

c) as an integral part of the process of working

d) when people make errors and are helped to identify and correct them

1. In your organization, the most important personal quality you can have is to be:

a) loyal

b) creative

c) professional

d) rational

1. In your organization, status is given:

a) to people who find creative ways to help the organization grow

b) to people who contribute to achieving goals

c) to distant and powerful leaders

d) to close and powerful leaders

1. In your organization, people are principally:

a) human resources

b) creators

c) experts

d) members of a family

The questionnaire classifies companies as four basic types.

Question	Family	Guided Missile	Eiffel Tower	Incubator
	B	A	D	C
	A	C	B	D
	B	D	C	A
	A	C	B	D
	C	D	A	B
	D	A	B	C
	A	B	D	C
	D	B	C	A
	D	C	A	B

Exercise 3. Read the following descriptions and do the task.

The Incubator. The function of the organization is to enable people to fulfill their potential. Relationships grow between people as they work on tasks together. Leaders are treated with skepticism. A high value is placed on creativity. Change can be fast and spontaneous. There is an emotional commitment to the work being done. Managers are enthusiastic. Everyone is equal and there is as little formal hierarchy as possible. Most commonly found in Sweden. Typical of new start-ups and partnerships: doctors, consultants, lawyers.

The Family. There are strong relationships between people at work. The leader is seen as a father-figure. Differences in status between people are seen as natural. Everyone is valuable. Decisions are made at the top. The main types of reward and punishment are the approval and disapproval of superiors. People can act together because they understand each other and the organization. A high value is placed on loyalty to the company and to superiors. Most commonly found in Spain, Greece, France, Belgium, Japan and Singapore. Typical of small and medium-sized firms.

The Guided Missile. Everyone is equal, while having different roles. The organization is oriented to performing tasks and achieving goals. People must do whatever it takes to achieve the goals of the organization. The organization may break up or alter when its goals have been achieved. Individual contributions are recognized and lead to pay rises or promotion. Managers set clear objectives. A high value is placed on practicality. Most commonly found in the USA, Canada and the UK. Typical of large, decentralized companies.

The Eiffel Tower. There are explicit definitions of roles and relationships. Authority belongs to roles, not to the people who occupy them. Everyone is replaceable. People have a strong sense of duty and responsibility. The organization functions because everyone obeys the rules. Decisions are made at the top. The hierarchy is complex and is described formally. Leaders are distant. Most commonly found in France, Germany, Austria and the Netherland. Typical of large, mature companies.

Task.

1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of the corporate culture. Give your reasons.
2. Which type do you think would suit you best? Give your reasons.
3. Describe the corporate culture of your company.

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