Active learning ideas
Corporate culture is the 'DNA' of an organisation, the shared values, beliefs, and norms that influence how employees behave. Students explore Handy's four cultural types (Power, Role, Task, and Person) and Hofstede's national cultures. This topic is vital because culture can either be a powerful driver of strategic success or a massive barrier to change.
Activity 01
Display images of different office spaces, dress codes, and recruitment adverts. Students move around and use Handy's model to categorise which type of culture each business likely has.
What are the different types of organisational culture?
Activity 02
Assign students to two different cultures (e.g., a 'Power' culture and a 'Task' culture). They must debate how their respective organisations would handle a sudden crisis, highlighting the pros and cons of each.
How does culture impact strategic implementation?
Activity 03
Groups research a real-world company known for its strong culture (e.g., Zappos, Netflix, or John Lewis). They must identify three specific 'artifacts' (rituals, stories, or symbols) that reinforce that culture.
Why is it difficult to change an established corporate culture?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Corporate culture is just about having a pool table in the office.
Perks are 'artifacts,' but true culture is about deep-seated values and how decisions are made. Peer-critiquing 'cool' offices helps students look deeper at how employees are actually treated and managed.
There is one 'best' type of culture.
The 'best' culture depends on the industry and strategy. A 'Role' culture might be perfect for a nuclear power plant where safety is paramount, while a 'Task' culture suits a creative agency. Discussion helps students match culture to context.
Methods used in this brief