Question: Define culture?

Answer: - “the way we do things around here”

• it will influence how workers feel about the workplace and therefore their levels of motivation

• Question: What does it mean to have a strong culture?

• Answer: - employees respond positively to organisational values leading to a shared sense of responsibility towards vision, mission and objectives

• Question: What are the advantages of having a strong culture in an organisation?

• Answer: - results in a motivated and loyal workforce who accept roles and responsibilities willingly and abide by policies

• - this can give a business a competitive advantage through greater efficiency

• - “everyone buy’s into it”

• Question: What does it mean to have a weak culture?

• Answer: - there is little alignment with organisational values

• Question: How does a weak culture impact on organisation?

• Answer: - employees treat the organisation as a source of income only

• - greater management control and supervision is required

• - employees have to be forced to perform duties

• Question: What did Johnson and Scholes propose?

• Answer: - identified 6 elements that act together to form an organisation’s culture

• Question: What are the six elements?

• Answer: - stories

• - symbols

• - rituals and routines

• - power structure

• - organisational structure

• - controls

• Question: What occurs if there is harmony and interrelationship between these elements?

• Answer: - help a business to achieve it’s vision

• - how they interact is known as “the paradigm”

• Question: Explain the element of stories in more detail?

• Answer: - over time stories about people and events are shared

• - build memories and emotions developing ideas about what is important in the business

• Question: Explain the element of symbols in more detail?

• Answer: - visual representations of the business such as logos and designs

• - there can be more hidden symbols such as reserved parking for executives or separate dining areas