Question: Understanding Culture Pick an organization you are very familiar with-such as a local school, church, or one in which you have worked for a long period of time. Use the chapter material to think about its culture and answer the following questions:
1. What are the terminal and instrumental values of the organization? How do they affect its members' attitudes and behaviors?
2. Identify the main beliefs and norms of organizational members. How do these norms relate to the organizations values? Is there a fit between them? Identify areas for improvement.
3. How does the organization socialize new members? Could the ways it helps newcomers learn the organization's culture be improved?
4. What kinds of organizational ceremonies does the organization have to help reinforce its values and norms?
5. Try to identify the source of the values and norms of your organization's culture; for example, do you think the people or the organization's rules and procedures have the most effect on organizational culture?