BUS272 TB

a 5S Culture for You? on page 374 discusses how the 5S method has been used to implement
and sustain order in workspaces.
Chapter 10 Organizational Culture 357
Language
Many organizations and subunits within them use language to help members identify
with the culture, show their acceptance of it, and help preserve it. Baristas at Starbucks
call drinks short , tall , grande , and venti instead of small , medium , large , and extra-large ,
and they know the difference between a half-decaf double tall almond skinny mocha
and an iced short schizo skinny hazelnut cappuccino with wings. 43 Students and
employees at Grant MacEwan College are informed by the philosophy of the college’s
namesake. Dr. Grant MacEwan, historian, writer, politician, and environmentalist, was
never a formal part of the management of the organization. However, many phrases
from his writing and creed have found their way into formal college publications and
calendars, as well as informal communications, including his most well known, “I have
tried to leave things in the vineyard better than I found them.” 44
C r e a t i n g a n d S u s t a i n i n g a n O r g a n i z a t i o n ’s C u l t u r e
Maintaining an organizational culture in the face of interference can be challenging. 45 The
Calgary Stampede saw several challenges to its inclusive, community-spirited culture in its
early years. The first Stampede was held in 1886 and included all members of the local
community, including the five First Nations of Treaty No. 7: the Tsuu T’ina, Piikani, Stoney,
Kainai, and Siksika. These bands held powwows and offered cultural displays during the
Stampede, and their onsite “village” was a popular attraction. Efforts by the Department of
Indian Affairs to suppress Aboriginal culture in 1912 meant that Aboriginals could not participate
in the Stampede. Stampede organizers fought back hard, so that Aboriginal people would
not be excluded. The organizers fought back again after the 1914 Indian Act made it illegal for
Aboriginal people to participate in fairs and parades.
The Stampede’s commitment to an inclusive culture has paid off. Some powwow organizers
and participants are fourth-generation volunteers. By 2014 the village associated with the powwow
doubled in size and featured an exhibit outlining partnerships between the city, local First Nations,
and the Stampede. What role does culture play in creating high-performing organizations?
3
Identify the factors that
create and sustain an
organization’s culture.
An organization’s culture does not pop out of thin air, and once established, it rarely
fades away. What influences the creation of a culture? What reinforces and sustains these
forces once they are in place? Exhibit 10-3 summarizes how an organization’s culture is
established and sustained. We describe each part of this process next.
How a Culture Begins
An organization’s current customs, traditions, and general way of doing things are
largely due to what it has done before and how successful it was in doing it. This leads
EXHIBIT 10-3 How Organizational Cultures Form
Philosophy
of
organization's
founders
Selection
criteria
Top
management
Socialization
Organization's
culture