Joyce writes about the importance of Sustaining a Culture of Innovation. I agree with her and the link to Mr. Schein is "right-on".
I think that we all can agree that the 21st century organization is enormously complex and difficult to
understand — and even more difficult to manage. A volatile mix of
dynamics are triggering changes in the workplace:
* growing international competition
* expanding industry deregulation
* increasing diversity in the workforce
* shrinking product life cycles
* rapidly evolving communication and information technologies
As the complexity increases, effective managers must have a strong
knowledge of the people in the organization and the tasks they perform.
And they must have the skills to use that knowledge in practical and
flexible ways.
The importance of factors such as strategic organizational design,
informal networks, leadership styles, negotiation skills, and cultural
diagnoses cannot be underestimated. Each has a pivotal impact on an
organization’s performance.
So, take a look at this very interesting book. It was part of my readings last year – part of my Master Thesis.
And do I dare to ask? How do you cope with those difficult matters?
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.
More from the Publisher.