Organisation culture – Part 5 When we hold directors and managers accountable for a problem with organisational culture, we affirm that culture is a product of choices made and actions taken (or neglected). Consequently, it cannot be fixed and immutable. While it may be consistent (and sometimes even seems ossified), it is amenable to reshaping.… Continue reading Ways of knowing and being in organisational culture
Tag: organisational culture
Organisational ‘personality’
Organisational Culture – Part 4 The personality metaphor ‘Organisational personhood’ refers to the legal concept that an incorporated entity, like a non-profit or for-purpose organisation, as distinct from its associated people (i.e. directors, managers, or employees), has some of the legal rights and responsibilities enjoyed by ‘natural persons’. (A ‘natural person’ in this sense is a human… Continue reading Organisational ‘personality’
Choosing an organisational metaphor? Choose wisely!
Organisational Culture – Part 3 A cautionary note Beware the power of metaphor. The metaphors used to describe your organisation can exert a strong influence on your team and stakeholders – for good or ill. I recently heard of an organisation in which some of the members had started referring to the entity as “The… Continue reading Choosing an organisational metaphor? Choose wisely!
Multi-focal Views of Organisational Culture
Organisational Culture – Part 2 Gaze Awareness In sociology, critical theory, and psychoanalysis, ‘the gaze‘ refers to the awareness and perception an individual or group has of other individuals, other groups or themselves. In literary criticism, for example, the gaze of the writer and the gaze of the reader are often the subject of comment.… Continue reading Multi-focal Views of Organisational Culture
Working ‘on’ or ‘in’ your organisational culture
Organisational Culture – Part 1 When we read about an association’s or charity’s culture in the media, all too often it is not a ‘good news’ story. They don’t generally give out Walkley or Pulitzer awards to journalists for stories about innovative, caring, or ethical cultures. The news focus, therefore, skews towards corrupt, risky, toxic,… Continue reading Working ‘on’ or ‘in’ your organisational culture
Conflict Governance: Managing Role Conflict, Strain & Ambiguity
While ‘conflict of interest’ is generally understood to relate to directors needing to separate their board responsibilities from self-interest (especially financial benefit for themselves or those close to them), role (or goal) conflict, role strain, and role ambiguity tend to be less thoroughly addressed in non-profit governance mechanisms. Social scientists tell us that the term… Continue reading Conflict Governance: Managing Role Conflict, Strain & Ambiguity
Organisational power
The powers and duties of directors were the focus of some earlier posts, however these make quite narrow use of the concept of ‘power’ – which has many forms and applications. My previous post dealt with powers legally (and therefore legitimately) afforded non-profit boards and directors, and made reference to those powers being distinctly different… Continue reading Organisational power
Moral Governance – Part 2
Moral Climate and Culture When the moral climate in an organisation is the cause of moral distress, it could seem like ‘victim blaming’ to suggest that a ‘resilience bundle’ should be provided to employees or volunteers to help them to cope. As with any risk analysis, unless you identify and address the root cause of… Continue reading Moral Governance – Part 2
Moral Governance – Part 1
Moral decision-making Governance can be recognised as a moral undertaking, especially when characterised as ‘doing the right things in the right way’. Ethical (or moral) decision-making involves use of a ‘moral compass’, guided by agreed values, to make decisions which are both legally and ethically sound. The quadrant chart below summarises the combinations facing non-profit… Continue reading Moral Governance – Part 1