Symbols of culture are called artifacts. Artifacts are the most visible and accessible level of culture. These include behaviors, stories, rituals (everyday practices that are repeated frequently), and symbols (e.g., company logos, company colors). For example, the president of a company volunteering at Habitat for Humanity is an artifact of culture. An example of symbols as an artifact of culture is Ashford University's shield that serves as our logo and is printed on transcripts, diplomas and letterhead paper. Submit a two- to three-page paper (excluding the title and reference pages) describing the culture of either your current or past place of employment.
Your paper should provide examples of and address each of the following topics:
- Observable artifacts
- Espoused values (These are what organizational members say they value, like ethical practice.)
- Enacted values (These are reflected in the way individuals actually behave.)
In addition, describe how each item listed above impacts the values and culture of the organization.