CULTURE AND INNOVATION

Culture and Innovation in Organisations

Abstract

The research intends to describe organisational culture through perspectives of different studies, researches, and findings. The concept that organisational culture impact on the innovation is has been analysed using relevant theories. The success factors for the organisational culture and the issues that can impact the problem solving approaches have been highlighted. The innovation is the key to success, and the organisational culture should constituent the behaviour and factors that encourage the innovation are proposed. The role of the leaders and senior management within organisation affects the culture of the organisation has been assessed.

Introduction1

Language, stories and rituals2

Values and Organisational Culture2

Societal Culture and Organisational Culture2

The National Culture3

Organisational Culture influenced by Organisation' structure, design features and human Qualities3

Power Culture4

Role Culture4

Task Culture4

Person Culture5

Organisational Culture influenced by the traits that makes it effective5

Clan5

Hierarchy6

Adhocracy6

Market6

Dimensions of the Organizational Culture6

Innovative and risk takers6

Attention towards Accuracy7

Result Orientation7

People orientation7

Individualism or Isolation7

Team orientation8

Aggressiveness8

Stability8

Two Dimensions of the Organisation Culture8

Internally focused9

Flexibility and Discretion in internally focused Organisation9

Stability and Control in internally focused Organisation9

Externally focused9

Flexibility and Discretion in externally focused Organisation10

Stability and Control in externally focused Organisation10

Qualitative and Quantitative culture10

Properties of Qualitative organisations11

Ceremonies, Rituals and Rites11

Stories and Myths11

Heroes11

Language12

Symbols12

Quantitative Culture12

The Cultural Attributes12

Power Distance13

Uncertainty Avoidance13

Human Orientation13

Collectivism or the institutional Collectivism13

Collectivism in Group13

Assertiveness14

Gender Egalitarianism14

Future Orientation14

Performance Orientation14

Issues that Impact on Problem Solving14

Unemotionality15

Depersonalization15

Subordination15

Conservatism15

Isolationism16

Antipathy16

Impact of Organisational culture on Innovation and Role of the Leaders16

IBM's Organisational Culture18

The Role culture18

The organisation practices the culture which is dependent on its structure, design features and

The Task Culture19

The values, beliefs, traditions19

The stories languages and rituals20

Analyzing the characteristics of IBM's Organisational Culture20

Consistency21

Adaptability21

Involvement21

Sense of mission21

The Cultural Attitude21

IBM's Cultural Assessment22

Assessing the Dimensions of IBM's Culture23

Two Dimensions of the Organisation Culture25

Flexibility and Discretion25

Stability and Control25

Flexibility and Discretion in externally focused Organisation26

Stability and Control in externally focused Organisation26

IBM's Culture (Qualitative Vs Quantitative culture)26

Quantitative Culture26

Qualitative Culture26

Innovative behaviour in IBM's Leadership28

Recommendations for Organisations to adopt IBM's Organisational Culture28

Recommendations for IBM to improve its Culture29

Bibliography33

Appendices36



Culture and Innovation in Organisations

Introduction

The term 'Organisational Culture' refers to the broad array of definitions, most of these researches define it as interpretations, values, traditions and norms governed within the organisations. Where as, some studies propose that Organisational culture is better described by the human qualities and organisational structure. However, theorist also suggests that the origin of organisational culture is the result of ideas, values and beliefs of individuals or groups that root from their languages, rituals, and societal cultures. Nevertheless, there are few common characteristics in these definitions (Hofstede et al. 1990).

It is holistic and can not be restricted to an individual rather it refers to the group of individuals.

Culture is related to historical traditions and customs.

Organisational culture is difficult to change as the people tends to keep on holding their values, ideas, and traditions.

It is socially constructed product and shared by different groups of people. So, different group can construct different cultures.

It is qualitative, difficult to catch, soft, and vague.

Culture is also characterized as ritual, myth, symbols and other anthropological terms.

It also refers to values, ideas and the ways of thinking rather than the objective, and ...