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This book presents a new approach to organizational culture based in the ontologies of process metaphysics, complexity theory, and social constructionism. The author shows that most existing definitions of organizational culture are inadequate and argues that organizational culture is socially constructed, building on Schein's idea that culture emerges as a dynamic response to problem solving by the organization's members. Through several case studies, he demonstrates that neglecting an organization's culture is responsible for the failures of organizational change efforts and shows how using this new model will lead to improved results. This book will be a valuable resources to anyone interested in organizational studies.
List of contents
1. Introduction.- 2. A culture perspective: growing culture in a community garden.- 3. A mental model of organizational culture.- 4. Sense and Meaning.- 5. Ontologies of organizational culture.- 6. Culture and Organizational Change.- 7. Creating Context: the role of sensemaking in producing culture.- 8. Metaphors: a critical culture tool.- 9. Using the ideas and approaches: A case study.- 10. Working with Organizational Culture: Ideas about Consulting.
About the author
Jim MacQueen is a former Organizational Development Consultant at Virginia Tech, USA (retired). He has practiced OD on five continents in more than a dozen countries. Over the past 25 years, he has worked with Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, universities, nonprofits and small businesses as both an external and internal consultant.
Summary
This book presents a new approach to organizational culture based in the ontologies of process metaphysics, complexity theory, and social constructionism. The author shows that most existing definitions of organizational culture are inadequate and argues that organizational culture is socially constructed, building on Schein's idea that culture emerges as a dynamic response to problem solving by the organization’s members. Through several case studies, he demonstrates that neglecting an organization's culture is responsible for the failures of organizational change efforts and shows how using this new model will lead to improved results. This book will be a valuable resources to anyone interested in organizational studies.
