Types Of Organizational Culture

The best-known classification of types of organizational culture is the Competing Values Framework. Kim Cameron and Robert Quinn at the University of Michigan identified four distinct types of organizational culture.

 

Every organization has its own mix of these four organizational culture types, with one culture typically dominating. The larger the organization, the bigger the possibility that there may be more than one culture in the organization. This may be beneficial to the organization, but it may also be disadvantageous or challenging when attempting to have a cohesive culture in a regionally and globally dispersed organization.

 

The four organizational cultures Cameron and Quinn identified are:

 

·         Clan culture

·         Adhocracy culture

·         Hierarchy culture

·         Market culture

 

Clan culture – the people-oriented, friendly Collaborate Culture.

A hallmark of many small businesses, start-ups and family-run organizations, Clan culture has an inward focus. It nurtures those who work within the company and emphasizes interpersonal relationships, communication and collaboration. By doing so, it aims to create one big happy family.

 

Adhocracy culture – the dynamic, entrepreneurial Create Culture.

A culture that runs on adrenaline and thrives on disrupting the status quo. Defined by its readiness to take risks, an Adhocracy culture prizes innovation and initiative and rides the waves of change with confidence. It also fails fast and learns from mistakes quickly to make the necessary changes next time. Tech companies are a prime example: entrepreneurial, dynamic and visionary.

 

Hierarchy culture – the process-oriented, structured Control Culture.

A place for everyone and everyone in their place. There’s a formality to this particular organizational culture, with leaders at the top and an established chain of command. In essence, it’s the traditional corporate structure.

 

Market culture – the results-oriented, competitive Compete Culture.

The most aggressive of the organizational culture types. Expect a workplace driven by targets, deadlines and the need to get results, with staff performance closely monitored. Clan and Adhocracy cultures embrace flexibility, but Market culture needs stability to function, making it a common feature in bigger and long-established companies.

 

It’s also outwards focused, keeping its sights trained on the customer and how to beat its competitors. Reputation matters, as does staying one step ahead.



Picture - Four common types of company culture 

Source - Internet 


Comments

  1. Nice reading, thank you. In addition, would like to share some other types of organizational cultures.

    Other types of organizational cultures

    Cultures can be dissected and described in more granular ways. The reason is that each organization is uniquely shaped by its vision, mission, and leadership. Groysberg, Lee, Price, and Cheng identified the following additional organizational cultures in their research published in Harvard Business Review (2018).

    Purpose culture – Company leaders and employees share altruistic values of changing the world and ensuring global resources are shared with those who live the margins.

    Learning organizational culture – Focuses on research, innovation, creativity, learning and development.

    Enjoyment organizational culture – Having fun and a sense of humor is what defines this culture.

    Results organizational culture – Characterized by meeting targets, achieving goals, and is performance-driven.

    Authority organizational culture – Is defined by strong leadership and confident employees. It is a competitive working environment where employees strive to be the best in their field.

    Safety organizational culture – May be risk-averse where leaders thrive on fostering safety through planning and taking calculated or little risk and doing what has worked in the past.

    Order organizational culture – Is usually defined by rules, procedures and where employees have very defined roles.

    Caring organization culture – Will be characterized by an environment that cares for its employees and where there may be strong engagement and loyalty.

    ReplyDelete
  2. According to the my point of view, Both of You are correct about organizational culture types. I found some articles about Organization Culture Types from AIHR Academy page, They categorized the organizational Culture in to 2 frameworks,
    1 - Competing Values Framework. (Which include in Chandana's Article)
    2 - The Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture. (Which include in Thilina Gunarathna's Comment)

    If you want more information, Please refer the following link to get some.

    https://www.aihr.com/blog/types-of-organizational-culture/

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  3. Well written article Chandana, The term ‘culture’ has its origins in the Latin word ‘colere’, which means to tend or cultivate. Simply put, organizational culture is how leadership tends to, cultivates, or takes care of its company, stakeholders, and employees. Culture can be outlined as the consistent organizational behaviors of employees and leaders (norms).nowing the different types of organizational culture helps you understand how to shape the culture at your organization as the organization develops over time. (Gardner,2021)

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  4. Yes Chakranga. agreed with you. Thank you.

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  5. Organizational culture is a method of common values, norms, and theories that guides members' mindsets and behaviors and affects the way they perceive and react to their environment.

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  6. Thank you for bringing up the information. further Work Place culture is important to an organization which leads to improving productivity, marketability, forming unity between employees too.

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