Discussion: Can Organizational Culture Be Managed?PreviousNext

Some organizational theorists would assert that an organization's culture cannot be "managed" in the truest sense of how one "manages" the processes and activities, and things that exist within an organization. David Campbell (2000) says that an organization "is being constructed continuously on a daily, even momentary, basis through individual interactions with others" (p. 28).

Consider the sheer multiplicity of formal and informal groups, structures, tasks, functional operations, and individual interactions that exist and occur within very large organizations; these are seemingly endless. Consider as well the potential number (and combination) of individual to individual, individual to group, and group to group interactions that are likely to occur on a momentary basis within an organization (and then, there are the seemingly endless numbers of contacts/interactions withexternalstakeholders as well).

For this assignment, please discuss the following:

1. What is organizational culture?
2. Can culture be managed in the same way that other systems and processes can be "managed"?
3. Depending on your answer, what does this mean as to the use of culture as a "strategic control"?

References Campbell, D. (2000).The socially constructed organization. London: Karnac Books.