What does the Working Culture means?
Basically in every company or anywhere in the workplace, there is always a work culture. The work culture will be reflected in the behavior of its employees, the people involved in it, its rules, and its policies. But what is the culture of work?
According to Schein (1992), the work culture is:
“A pattern of shared basic assumption that the group learns as it solves the problems of external adaptation and internal integration that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to those problems.”
From this understanding it can be concluded that the work culture is a collection of basic assumptions learned as a result of solving problems that exist outside and within the company in the adjustment process.
The work culture arises from the shared learning among the perceived members as the right way to understand, think, and feel for each other in order to solve the problem.
Schein itself divides the work culture into three levels, namely:
- Behavior and Artifact
Behavior is a level that is easily visible, such as authoritarian behavior, flexibility, and harsh behavior. Behavior that exists on employees or members within the company can reflect certain values.
- Values
Unlike the level of behavior and artifact, values are not visible, only values can be expressed through certain patterns. For example, the value of openness can be revealed from the behavior that would listen to all the criticism and suggestions. Or for example a frugal value can be revealed from working with minimal paper.
- Confidence
This level of confidence is indeed the deepest level compared to the two values above. In addition to this level is not easy to see, the belief also consists of various basic assumptions. Suppose a person who has a trust value will have a high priority that will be revealed in his behavior, which is like easy to trust in others.
In addition to Schein, Tosi, Rizzo, Carroll (1994) also describes the notion of a work culture. According to Tosi, Rizzo, Carroll, work culture is
“… the patterned way of thinking, feeling, and reacting that exist in an organization or its subsectors. It is the unique “mental programming” of that organization, which is a reflection of its capital organization personality”.
Almost the same as Schein, but Tosi, Rizzo, Carroll talk more about work culture as a way of thinking, feeling, reacting to certain patterns already in the organization. Well that’s two perspectives on the understanding of work culture. Hope can help you to better understand what is a work culture.
Now what about the corporate culture in your company? what is the influence of corporate culture on corporate performance? Does it matter or not?
