Organizational culture is a system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs, which governs how people behave within organizations

What makes us want to be part of an outfit?

What makes us feel good about our work? | Dan Ariely

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While there is universal agreement that (1) it exists, and (2) that it plays a crucial role in shaping behavior in organizations, there is little consensus on what organizational culture actually is, never mind how it influences behavior and whether it is something leaders can change.

1. What Is Organizational Culture? And Why Should We Care? | Michael D. Watkins

One last source of corporate stupidity we came across was company culture. Often, these cultures imprison employees in narrow ways of viewing the world ... As they rose through the ranks, these ambitious young consultants realised that what was most important was not coming up with a well-thought-through solution. It was keeping clients happy with impressive PowerPoint shows. Those who did insist on carefully thinking through their client’s problems often found their ideas unwelcome. If they persisted in using their brains, they were often politely told that the office might not be the place for them.

2. Stupefied - How organisations enshrine collective stupidity and employees are rewarded for checking their brains at the office door by André Spicer, Aeon Magazine, 27 September 2016

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1. Read Edgar Schein : Organizational Culture and Leadership and what his book on organizational culture means.
2. Then to take the thought of organizational culture down to one organization and its culture, read
   • 1100100 and counting
   • The test of time
   • Reflections on a firm that encapsulated the American Century

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• define organizational culture from the Schein reading
• plan to discuss your personal experiences with organizational cultures
• what organizational examples (or companies) can we think of that have been successful because of their organizational culture?

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Buster Voodoo

Rodrigo y Gabriela are a Mexican musical duo who specialize in playing fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars. The duo's members are Rodrigo Sánchez, lead guitar, and Gabriela Quintero, rhythm guitar.

They are originally from Mexico but gained a following after playing their music in the streets and bars of Dublin. Their acoustic style is very interesting because it's influenced by two genres that don't usually go together--flamenco and heavy metal. This duo is also an interesting blend of cultures. They grew up in Mexico City, listening to American rock bands like Metallica, and eventually gained their fame through a European audience.

playing at TED

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