The culture concept evolved to conceptualize humankind’s diversity, it asserts that we socially construct different understandings of nature and hence of the reality that surrounds us (Buchanan & Huczynski, 2004). Culture is ubiquitous, exists everywhere and has a significant influence. It affects not only the visible parts of individuals (behaviour and action) but also the invisible ones (beliefs and values). This complex interaction, which takes place on different levels, between individuals and groups within and with other organisations, can be seen as the primary determinant of behaviour in the workplace. The patterns of interaction between people and the external surroundings represent a complex environment which influences behaviour in organisations.
Therefore, more and more managers are talking about changing their culture, creating a new culture, figuring out the impact of their culture, or preserving their culture. In this paper, the main focus is to define organizational culture and determine its influences on companies’ performance. Firstly, there are several related questions that will be discussed: What is organizational culture? What are the key elements of it? How is it formed and can it be managed to contribute to a firm’s performance? Secondly, we take a closer look at Google’s organizational culture and research, to discover whether there is a link between its culture and its performance. Finally, a conclusion is drawn about the culture-performance link and the difficulties associated with this topic.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Organizational Culture
- 2.1 What is organizational culture and what are its key components?
- 2.2 How is an organisational culture formed?
- 2.3 Can organisational culture be managed? How does it influence a firm's performance?
- 3. Google's Organizational Culture
- 3.1 Short overview - Google Inc.
- 3.2 The key components and values of Google's culture
- 3.2.1 Physical Objects
- 3.2.2 Behaviour Patterns
- 3.3 Values that lead to creativity and a willingness to perform
- 3.4 How Google's culture contributes to its success
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to define organizational culture, explore its impact on company performance, and analyze Google's organizational culture as a case study. The paper investigates how organizational culture is formed, whether it can be managed, and its relationship to a firm's success. The analysis will examine if a clear link exists between Google's culture and its performance.
- Defining organizational culture and its key components
- The formation and management of organizational culture
- The influence of organizational culture on firm performance
- Analysis of Google's organizational culture
- The relationship between Google's culture and its success
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by defining the concept of organizational culture and its pervasive influence. It highlights the growing interest among managers in understanding and managing organizational culture to improve performance. The chapter lays out the paper's objectives: to define organizational culture, identify its key elements, explore its formation and management, and analyze its impact on Google's performance.
2. Organizational Culture: This chapter delves into the multifaceted nature of organizational culture. It presents various definitions from prominent authors, settling on a definition that emphasizes shared values, beliefs, and behavioral norms. Schein's three-level model—artefacts, values, and underlying assumptions—is introduced as a framework for analysis. The chapter also discusses the formation of organizational culture, highlighting the roles of founders, socialization of new employees, and the impact of group homogeneity and shared experiences. It touches upon the ongoing debate regarding the manageability of organizational culture and its effect on a firm's performance, setting the stage for later chapters.
Keywords
Organizational culture, Google, company performance, values, beliefs, shared norms, organizational socialization, management, cultural impact.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a paper analyzing Google's organizational culture. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the paper?
The paper explores the definition and components of organizational culture, its formation and management, and its impact on company performance. It uses Google as a case study to analyze the relationship between organizational culture and a firm's success.
What are the key themes of the paper?
Key themes include defining organizational culture and its components, understanding how organizational culture is formed and managed, examining the influence of organizational culture on firm performance, analyzing Google's specific organizational culture, and assessing the link between Google's culture and its achievements.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four chapters: an introduction, a chapter dedicated to organizational culture in general, a chapter focusing on Google's organizational culture, and a conclusion. Each chapter is summarized in the preview.
How does the paper define organizational culture?
The paper utilizes various definitions from prominent authors and ultimately focuses on a definition that emphasizes shared values, beliefs, and behavioral norms. Schein's three-level model (artefacts, values, and underlying assumptions) is used as a framework for analysis.
How is organizational culture formed and managed, according to the paper?
The formation of organizational culture is discussed, highlighting the roles of founders, socialization of new employees, and the impact of group homogeneity and shared experiences. The manageability of organizational culture and its impact on firm performance are also explored, though the preview doesn't detail the specific conclusions reached.
What aspects of Google's organizational culture are analyzed?
The paper analyzes key components and values of Google's culture, including physical objects and behavioral patterns. It investigates how these contribute to creativity, performance, and overall success.
What keywords are associated with the paper?
Keywords include: Organizational culture, Google, company performance, values, beliefs, shared norms, organizational socialization, management, cultural impact.
What is the overall goal of the paper?
The paper aims to define organizational culture, explore its influence on company performance, and use Google as a case study to analyze the relationship between culture and success. It investigates whether a clear link exists between Google's culture and its performance.
- Quote paper
- Marco Hierling (Author), Yu-Chen Yeh (Author), Chloe S.Y. Tai (Author), Jennie Lang Yu (Author), 2007, Organizational culture and the case of Google, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/76814
