Deck 16: Organizational Culture Theory

Question 1

All of the following statements about symbols are true EXCEPT

A) symbols represent meanings that are held by members of an organization
B) symbols include only the nonverbal communication that takes place in the organization
C) members of an organization create, use, and interpret symbols in order to create and sustain a sense of organizational reality
D) organizational values may be communicated through a variety of symbols

Answer 1

symbols include only the nonverbal communication that takes place in the organization

Question 2

Jokes that are shared, jargon that is understood, and stories that are told by members of an organization represent _________ symbols.

A) behavioral
B) physical
C) cultural
D) verbal

Answer 2

verbal

Question 3

Pacanowsky and O'Donnell-Trujillo proposed that organizational members serve as _________ who are part of the communicative performances that create a unique organizational culture.

A) agents
B) analogies
C) actors
D) agencies

Answer 3

actors

Question 4

All of the following are methods of investigation used by ethnographers to examine organizational culture EXCEPT

A) survey questionnaires
B) direct observation
C) interviews
D) participant observation

Question 5

Rebekkah is responsible for balancing the cash register at the end of every workday. This is an example of a(n) _________ ritual.

A) social
B) task
C) personal
D) organizational

Question 6

Each summer NowBank hosts a picnic for the families of its employees. This is an example of a(n) _________ ritual.

A) social
B) task
C) personal
D) organizational

Question 7

The approach to knowing that characterizes the research conducted using Organizational Culture Theory (OCT) is

A) positivistic/empirical
B) critical
C) interpretive
D) performative

Question 8

The major criticism of Organizational Culture Theory noted in your text is that

A) The theory has not stood the test of time.
B) The theory lacks consistency because stories may not have shared meaning.
C) The theory views organizational life as too complex to study systematically.
D) The theory lacks heuristic value.

Question 9

Renaldo always has a smile on his face when he enters the workplace. His colleagues comment on how much they appreciate his taking the time to stop and ask how their day is going as he passes by their desks. Renaldo is engaging in which type of communicative performance?

A) social
B) passion
C) ritual
D) political

Question 10

All of the following are assumptions of Organizational Culture Theory EXCEPT

A) Organizational members create and maintain a shared sense of organizational reality.
B) The use and interpretation of symbols are critical to an organization's culture.
C) Cultures vary across organizations, and the interpretations of actions within these cultures are diverse.
D) Organizations are produced and reproduced through the use of rules and resources.

Question 11

All of the following statements about the cultural approach to organizations are true EXCEPT

A) Change often results in confusion, anxiety, frustration, and excitement among the organization's members.
B) Researchers should observe, record, and make sense out of an organization by examining the communication among its members.
C) Culture is something an organization has, not something it is.
D) The cultural approach to organizations enables researchers to examine how an organization and its members evolve over time.

Question 12

The communication tradition most closely associated with OCT is

A) socio-psychological
B) semiotic
C) socio-cultural
D) cybernetic

Question 13

The workers at Zeideco Products often go out together after work on Fridays for "happy hour." This kind of organizational ritual would be classified as

A) passion
B) social
C) enculturation
D) personal

Question 14

Organizational _________ are used to inform members about what standards and principles are viewed as being important by the organization.

A) stories
B) rules
C) values
D) performances

Question 15

_________ research methodologies are most useful in understanding the cultural approach to organizations.

A) Qualitative
B) Quantitative
C) Triangulated
D) Symbolic

Question 16

OCT has been applauded for its ability to explain the experiences of nearly all of the employees in an organization, which means it has significant ____________ value.

A) utility
B) hermeneutic
C) consistency
D) heuristic

Question 17

Pacanowsky has noted that values derive from

A) moral knowledge
B) our private interactions with others
C) the stories we share
D) the culture in which we live

Question 18

The material objects of an organization, such as the your school's logo and buildings, are called

A) physical symbols
B) behavioral symbols
C) passion performances
D) ceremonial performances

Question 19

A _____ is an explanation of the intricate layers of meaning underlying a culture.

A) cultural narrative
B) depth analysis
C) thick description
D) performance

Question 20

A researcher's own interpretations and values have no place in the kind of research that is typically done using OCT.

Question 21

The goal of the cultural approach to organizations is to create a generalized description of life that can be applied across a variety of organizations.

Question 22

A field journal is used in ethnographic research to record experiments performed on the people in a culture different from one's own.

Question 23

The cultural approach has been criticized for focusing its attention on the organization as a whole, rather than attempting to understand the experiences of individuals.

Question 24

The cultural approach to organizations takes into account members at all levels - superior and subordinate - in understanding the development of the organization.

Question 25

Political performances refer to the acts of civility and politeness in organizations.

Question 26

Dwight Conquergood's research examined the rituals and symbols of the homeless in Chicago.

Question 27

Describe the various types of symbols that can be used to communicate an organization's values. Provide an example of each. Why are symbols important to examine when taking a cultural approach to organizations?

Question 28

Differentiate between the various types of performances proposed by Pacanowsky and O'Donnell-Trujillo.

Question 29

Describe the various methods that may be used to investigate an organization from a cultural approach. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each method?

Question 30

Geertz applied the analogy of a spiderweb to explain organizational culture. Develop an original analogy that can be used to explain organizational culture. Be sure to discuss the reasoning behind your choice.

Question 31

Geertz believes that in order to understand a culture, one must see it from the members' point of view. Discuss the application of this thinking to one of your classrooms this term. How are you able to see the classroom culture from the views of others?

Question 32

How would you use the concepts from Organizational Culture Theory to study a particular organizational culture? Formulate a research question and describe how you would go about learning more about an organization that interests you. What would be the utility of such research?

Question 33

Describe the culture of your school using Organizational Culture Theory. Identify the various types of symbols and performances used to perpetuate the culture among the members of this organization.

Question 34

In addition to the five cultural performances identified by Pacanowsky and O'Donnell-Trujillo, name additional cultural performances in organizations in which you have worked. Be sure to describe the characteristics of the performance and any corresponding example.