Organization culture of Apple and Nokia

Organization Culture: Apple versus Nokia

Introduction

Organization culture and leadership style are of utmost importance in driving any organization towards success and growth. It devises working methodology and processes for the employees. Every organization has a certain culture and structure that can make it or break it by dictating rules of behaviour and working processes for its employees. It is very important to have sound organization culture that enhances the potential capabilities and skills of the employees and bringing together the resources that are important for successful implementation of organizational objectives and policies.

Discussion

Apple Inc. and Nokia

Apple Inc. is known for its aesthetically designed smart phones, musical devices and computers. It is not the market leader but has a strong following of loyal customers that only prefer its products due to it aesthetics and innovative designs. Apple faced many problems and was on the verge of bankruptcy before it introduced Iphone. When Steve Job took over the company, it was in a bad shape. He restructured and redesigned its organization structure and culture through his unique management style (Kramer, 2010). At Nokia, its only thing similar to that of Apple is its policy and culture of innovation. Unlike Apple Nokia is the market leader in the telecommunication industry. In contrast of Apple it offers cell phones for every class of customers at different price ranges.

The corporate and organization culture at Apple has always been a topic of controversy. Steve Job's management style was an issue of debate among many critiques as it contradicts all the modern rules and style of successful organization, presented in the books. There was an air o dictatorship.

The organization structure of Apple is very straight forward and there are no dotted lines or intermediaries. For example the cost and expenses or P&L comes under Chief Financial Officer. There are divisions of functions. The hierarchy of job is top down, decisions are dictated from the higher management level and subordinates are asked to strictly follow and bring desired results. People are held accountable and are answerable for the results due to which employees are forced to work hard and meet their targets (Lashinsky, 2011).

The organization structure of Nokia is very flexible and fluid unlike Apple. The company believes in making mentors from within the company and motivates them to work hard not by force or dictatorship but by reward and authority to make decisions. The company has a policy to assign mentors or managers for every task or project.

The major difference between the culture of Nokia and Apple is the corporate culture of both the companies. At Apple Steve Jobs was more like a dictator who took every crucial and critical decision in his hand and did not depend on others. The culture of the company was force driven and the employees were expected to work under pressure, late nights and shifts. On the other hand Nokia follows a management style that is more friendly and democratic unlike Apple, where the management style was ...