A colleague says, ""I can understand how having a strong culture might help management. Still, words such as brainwashed and robot come to mind when I think of cultures where everyone is encouraged to think alike. That doesn't sound like a place I want to be."" What might you say to reassure your colleague?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is There is an element of truth in what your colleague says. At the extreme, some things done to strengthen cultures may share characteristics with at least mild forms of brainwashing. Further, some people have raised concerns that strong corporate cultures are ""cult-like."" Still, organizational cultural serves many important functions, as discussed in the chapter. Also, it is important to keep in mind that strong cultures can take many forms. For example, cultures may have strong shared values for individualism, tolerance, creativity, flexibility, or critical thinking. Just as a society may have strong values relating to freedom of speech or the rights of individuals, organizations may have strong values in support of things that have little in common with brainwashing.

A Colleague Says, ""I Can Understand How Having a Strong