Categories of artifacts through which corporate culture is deciphered.🌐⚛️
Four categories of artifacts through which corporate culture is deciphered.
Employees at Galvanize frequently use the expression "put the moose on the table," which denotes the need to talk about an uncomfortable but important topic. Even moose artifacts are kept by the Vancouver-based software company to raise awareness of this crucial practice. (Laurie,2020)
The continuous expression of a company's values via its artifacts is called organizational culture. Any lasting event or object made by an organizational member is considered an artifact.
Certain company artifacts are tangible, like the design of a building, a placard in the lobby, or bean bag chairs. A benefit policy, a logo, corporate legend about an action taken by the CEO, or a culture movie are just a few examples of artifacts that lack a tangible form.
Source : Authors own
Organizational culture is the shared set of values, beliefs, and practices that influence how employees behave within an organization. The values, beliefs, and practices of a company can be examined through artifacts to gain insight into its corporate culture.
The organizational culture can be examined through the following four types of artifacts:
Symbols & Physical structures
Symbols are tangible, visible artifacts that stand in for the values, practices, and beliefs of an organization. Symbols can be found in office layouts, buildings, uniforms, slogans, and logos. Important messages can be conveyed to employees as well as consumers via symbols. For instance, a business's logo can convey to both clients and employees its goals and core values.
Stories & Legends
Stories are narratives that explain an organization's values, beliefs, and practices. Stories can serve as a means of reinforcing an organization's culture and supporting employees' understanding of their roles within it. Corporate histories, mission statements, and success stories are a few types of stories. A compelling story may be a key mechanism through which managers motivate employees by giving their behavior direction and energizing them toward a certain goal (Beslin, 2007)
Rituals & Ceremonies
Rituals refer to repetitive activities within an organization that have symbolic meaning (Anand, 2005) Rituals are customary actions that uphold the beliefs, practices, and values of an organization. Rituals can be used to uphold an organization's culture and foster a sense of belonging. Company gatherings, award ceremonies, and team-building activities are a few examples of rituals.
Language
Language describes the exchange of ideas among members of an organization. An organization's language can reveal its practices, values, and beliefs. Additionally, language can be used to support an organization's culture. For instance, an organization may use language to encourage customer service and promote innovation, or teamwork.
Anand, N. (2005). Blackwell encyclopedic dictionary of organizational behavior. Cambridge: Wiley
Beslin, R. (2007). Story building: A new tool for engaging employees in setting direction. Ivey Business Journal, 71, 1–8
F. Stone, “The Conversation: ACL Services Boss Laurie Schultz Knows Fraud When She Sees It,” BC Business, February 7, 2017; “5 Questions on Culture with Laurie Schultz, CEO, Galvanize,” Business in Vancouver, January 2020, pp. 30–31
Wesley Nelson. (2022) Organizational artifacts https://youtu.be/0bHek8W5OCU?si=xGqee6goxNTwntJQ
Great article, Piyumi. It got me thinking of ways we can create artifacts for people WFH (Work from home) and who have just joined the company. Artifacts other than values, training sessions, and/or a welcome kit, but something that makes them feel part of the team. Do you have any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI have seen "buddy system", which assigns a existing member, like a mentor figure to the new employee to assist and navigate the culture ensuring a smooth blend in. And also regular check-ins would be practical too, either formal or informal to provide support.
DeleteOrganizational cultures can be interpreted by these artifacts as they give some sort of meaning to the organizational culture.
ReplyDeleteRituals and ceremonies and stories and legends, these are great emotional connection building approaches.
ReplyDelete