Experiential Leadership Exercise #9

Strong or Weak Corporate Culture

For this exercise select an organization your work for, have worked for, or know about. For each of the six statements, select an answer by placing one of the following numbers on the line:

5 – Strongly Agree

4 – Agree

3 – Not Sure

2 – Disagree

1 – Strongly Disagree

_____ 1. I clearly understand the organization’s philosophy (what it stands for); it is widely

shared by organizational leadership and members.

_____ 2. There is a concern for the individual; the organization often places individual concerns

over rules, policies, procedures, and adherence to job duties.

_____ 3. We have heroes whose actions illustrate the shared philosophy and concerns of the

organization.

_____ 4. There are many rituals and ceremonies that build common identity of members.

_____ 5. There is a well-understood sense of the informal rules and expectations of employees.

_____ 6. Employees believe that what they do is important to others. Networking to share

information and ideas is encouraged.

Your Tasks:

1. Add up the six numbers and place it on the following continuum:

Weak Culture 6 ———- 10 ———- 15 ———- 20 ———- 25 ———-30 Strong Culture

2. Analyze the results of your assessment. The higher the score, the stronger the corporate culture.

3. Answer the following questions:

1. What is corporate culture, what role does it play in organizations, and how is it created?
2. How does corporate culture influence individuals and organizations, and what makes corporate culture change?
3. How can leaders influence corporate culture?
4. Have you ever worked for an organization whose culture is in need of change? If so, what was the problem? What could have been done to change the culture? What obstacles would have had to be overcome for the changes to be effective?

………………..Answer Preview……………

What is corporate culture, what role does it play in organizations, and how is it created?

Corporate culture is a blend of Values, Taboos, Myths, beliefs and symbols that all companies are able to develop overtime, thus corporate culture defines the context within which employees operate. Culture plays a big role in organizations. It guides the behavior and operations of employees within the organization….

APA