Four Organizational Culture Types

Here is a quick summary of each of the four types of organizational cultures based on a Haworth article I found interesting:

• Control: Typically large, bureaucratic corporations or government agencies. They also generally have a typical hierarchical organizational structure. Ex. Fast food chains, government, auto manufacturing companies
• Compete: Highly structured, yet also focused on relationships and outside transactions with suppliers, customers, etc. Think high pressure sales type organizations. Ex. General Electric & Jack Welch
•  Collaborate: Organizations are operated more like families and value cohesion and loyalty. Less formal organizational structure. Ex. Tom's of Maine
•  Create: Innovative and creative companies with a future focus. Tend to be entrepreneurial and profit from developing new technologies and ideas. Ex. Google

  

Where does your organization fit?

-          Is your organization flexible? Do you have any discretion in decision making? Is it dynamic? OR Do you find it more stable? Is it orderly? Is there a lot of control? Plot where you believe your organization to be along the flexible/focused line.

-          Is your organization focused internally? Is there a high degree of unity and integration? OR Do you find it more externally focused with more value placed on differentiation and even rivalry with competitors or in the market? Plot where you believe your organization to be along the internal/external line.

Where would you place your company? Where would you place your department or work group? No one type is better than any other, however it is worth the time to think about whether this is where you would like to be, and if you want to go even further with it, is it working for you/the organization?

I would love to hear your thoughts :)

More details available at: http://www.haworth.com/en-us/knowledge/workplace-library/Documents/Four-Organizational-Culture-%20Types_6.pdf, 8 May 2013