Questions for review

1. Which of the definitions of corporate culture appeals to you the most? Why?

2. What do you think strong corporate culture means?

3. What is meant by a value?

4. What core values underpinning the way people do business can you name?

5. Do people’s values change in the course of time? What does it depend on?

6. What values do you find most important? Why?

7. Why do companies consider corporate culture a powerful strategic tool?

8. Why is corporate culture a key component in the achievement of an organization’s mission?

9. Why is a company’s image like an orchestra? What impression can it create?

10. What is meant by business intangibles? Why are they important?

11. What is organizational climate? Is it the same as the corporate culture? Why, why not?

12. What specific values can a company have? On what are they based? What may they concern?

13. How are corporate culture and success related?

14. Comment on the statement: “Often companies succeed because their employees can identify, embrace, and act on the values of the organization.”

15. How can cultural environment influence organizational climate? What else can affect corporate culture?

16. What values would you adhere to in your business? Could you walk over someone in achieving your goals?

17. What values would you prefer in your business partner?

18. Agree or disagree with the following statement: “A company’s culture is often buried so deeply inside rituals, assumptions, attitudes, and values that it becomes transparent to an organization’s members only when, for some reason, it changes.” (Rob Goffee, US writer, consultant, and academic)

LEXICAL MINIMUM

Key words

Corporate culture organizational culture shared values

Words and word combinations

1. mission (n) 32. shared values

2. belief (n) 33. to be critical to

3. intangibles ( n) 34. to be in high demand

4. integrity ( n) 35. at the top/ bottom of

5. unity (n) 36. to value seniority

6. respect for (n) 37. to promote from within

7. compassion for (n) 38. to work for the benefit of

8. challenge, n 39. to stand the test of the public

9. tolerance, n 40. to handle the conflicts

10. rigidity, n 41. to fit into the group

11. flexibility, n 42. to take for granted

12. paternalism, n 43. mutual respect

13. sociability, n 44. to stay with the company

14. empower, v 45. personal excellence

15. solidarity, n 46. imposed/ voluntary discipline

16. cohesive, adj 47. to reach consensus

17. fast-paced, pp 48. to be accountable to smb

18. highly-skilled, pp 49. moral norms

19. transparent, a 50. to take on challenges

20. contemporary, a 51. to be responsive to

21. embrace, v 52. to be committed to

22. undergo, v 53. to pride oneself on

23. to react to, v 54. to be sensitive to

24. adhere to, v 55. overall favourability

25. timely, a 56. to be well aware of

26. core values 57. to ensure loyalty

27. behavior patterns 58. to facilitate communication

28. implicit assumptions 59. to be keen on smth

29. personal rapport 60. training and developing opportunity

30. to have an effect on smth 61. to work one’s way up the ranks

31. at the heart of

Examination topic

Corporate Culture

1. Introduction.

2. The definition of a corporate culture.

3. Strong corporate culture. Company’s core values.

4. Organizational climate vs corporate culture.

5. Specific cultural values of an organization.

6. Types of corporate culture.

7. Conclusion.