In this third edition of his classic book, Edgar Schein shows how to transform the abstract concept of culture into a practical tool that managers and students can use to understand the dynamics of organizations and change.
Organizational pioneer Schein updates his influential understanding of culture-what it is, how it is created, how it evolves, and how it can be changed. Focusing on today's business realities, Schein draws on a wide range of contemporary research to redefine culture, offers new information on the topic of occupational cultures, and demonstrates the crucial role leaders play in successfully applying the principles of culture to achieve organizational goals. He also tackles the complex question of how an existing culture can be changed-one of the toughest challenges of leadership. The result is a vital resource for understanding and practicing organizational effectiveness.
Review quote:
Praise for Prior Editions of
"Worth reading again and again and again."
-Booklist
"An organizational development pioneer uses an anthropological approach to address a leader's role in shaping group and organizational dynamics."
-Knowledge Management
"[Schein] is, to use an overworked word, a guru, the recognized expert in the field."
-Inside Business.
Table of contents:
Part One: Organizational Culture and Leadership Defined.
1. The Concept of Organizational Culture: Why Bother?
2. The Levels of Culture.
3. Cultures in Organizations: Two Case Examples.
4. How Culture Emerges in New Groups.
Part Two: The Dimensions of Culture.
5. Assumptions About External Adaptation Issues.
6. Assumptions About Managing Internal Integration.
7. Deeper Cultural Assumptions About Reality and Truth.
8. Assumptions About the Nature of Time and Space.
9. Assumptions About Human Nature, Activity, and Relationships.
10. Cultural Typologies.
11. Deciphering Culture.
Part Three: The Leadership Role in Culture Building, Embedding, and Evolving.
12. How Leaders Begin Culture Creation.
13. How Leaders Embed and Transmit Culture.
14. The Changing Role of Leadership in Organizational "Midlife".
15. What Leaders Need to Know About How Culture Changes.
16. A Conceptual Model for Managed Culture Change.
17. Assessing Cultural Dimensions: A Ten-Step Process.
18. A Case of Organizational (Cultural?) Change.
19. The Learning Culture and the Learning Leader.
Organizational pioneer Schein updates his influential understanding of culture-what it is, how it is created, how it evolves, and how it can be changed. Focusing on today's business realities, Schein draws on a wide range of contemporary research to redefine culture, offers new information on the topic of occupational cultures, and demonstrates the crucial role leaders play in successfully applying the principles of culture to achieve organizational goals. He also tackles the complex question of how an existing culture can be changed-one of the toughest challenges of leadership. The result is a vital resource for understanding and practicing organizational effectiveness.
Review quote:
Praise for Prior Editions of
"Worth reading again and again and again."
-Booklist
"An organizational development pioneer uses an anthropological approach to address a leader's role in shaping group and organizational dynamics."
-Knowledge Management
"[Schein] is, to use an overworked word, a guru, the recognized expert in the field."
-Inside Business.
Table of contents:
Part One: Organizational Culture and Leadership Defined.
1. The Concept of Organizational Culture: Why Bother?
2. The Levels of Culture.
3. Cultures in Organizations: Two Case Examples.
4. How Culture Emerges in New Groups.
Part Two: The Dimensions of Culture.
5. Assumptions About External Adaptation Issues.
6. Assumptions About Managing Internal Integration.
7. Deeper Cultural Assumptions About Reality and Truth.
8. Assumptions About the Nature of Time and Space.
9. Assumptions About Human Nature, Activity, and Relationships.
10. Cultural Typologies.
11. Deciphering Culture.
Part Three: The Leadership Role in Culture Building, Embedding, and Evolving.
12. How Leaders Begin Culture Creation.
13. How Leaders Embed and Transmit Culture.
14. The Changing Role of Leadership in Organizational "Midlife".
15. What Leaders Need to Know About How Culture Changes.
16. A Conceptual Model for Managed Culture Change.
17. Assessing Cultural Dimensions: A Ten-Step Process.
18. A Case of Organizational (Cultural?) Change.
19. The Learning Culture and the Learning Leader.
"This easy-to-read, practical guide is packed full of ideas, tools and techniques for influencing culture..." (Health Service Journal, 21st October 2004)
"Professional groups maintain their authority by...having specialised language, rituals and rules (Schein, 1992)." (Nursing Times, September 2006)
"Professional groups maintain their authority by...having specialised language, rituals and rules (Schein, 1992)." (Nursing Times, September 2006)