pros and cons of organizational culture

Organizational culture played key roles in two events of the 20th century, separated by 21 years. Watch both videos

1941

Roberta Wohlstetter's Pearl Harbor: Warning and Decision

Read part of Roberta Wohlstetter's take on it

Wohlstetter, R. (1962). Pearl Harbor; warning and decision. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press
read pages vii-ix and 382-401






1962

Graham Allison's Essence of Decision

Read part of Graham Allison's take on it

Allison, G. T. (1971). Essence of decision: Explaining the Cuban missile crisis. Boston: Little, Brown
read pages v-viii;
skim pages 10-38, 87-100, 144-184;
read pages 243-263; and
skim pages 264-277

things we'll talk about
  • using Wohlstetter and Allison as examples, we'll reflect on the benefits and disadvantages of organizational culture
  • why is an organizational culture necessary?
  • does it help organizations orient their goals and prioritize?
  • does it make organizations vulnerable to stagnation?
  • think of companies and organizations that refused to change their organizational culture and suffered as a result

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