Question 1

Define and describe corporate culture. How and why does an ethnographer study it?

Accepted Answer

Corporate culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that characterize a company and its employees. It encompasses the company's mission, vision, and core values, as well as its work environment, communication style, and leadership approach. Corporate culture plays a significant role in shaping the overall work experience, employee satisfaction, and organizational performance.

An ethnographer studies corporate culture by immersing themselves in the company's environment and observing the interactions, rituals, and practices of its employees. They may conduct interviews, participate in meetings and events, and analyze documents and artifacts to gain a deep understanding of the company's culture. Ethnographers seek to uncover the underlying norms, symbols, and power dynamics that influence employee behavior and organizational dynamics.

Ethnographers study corporate culture to gain insights into how the company operates, how employees collaborate and communicate, and how decisions are made. By understanding the nuances of corporate culture, companies can identify areas for improvement, enhance employee engagement, and foster a more inclusive and productive work environment. Ethnographic research can also help companies navigate organizational change, mergers, and acquisitions by identifying potential cultural clashes and facilitating smoother integration.

Overall, studying corporate culture through ethnographic research provides valuable insights into the inner workings of an organization, helping companies to better understand and leverage their unique cultural strengths and address any cultural challenges that may impact their success.

Question 2

The job of a(n) ________ is to sort out the symbolic meanings of people's actions within their culture.

Accepted Answer

ethnographer

Question 3

Researchers who "map out" social discourse are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  ethnographers. 
B)  geographers. 
C)  cultographers. 
D)  None of the answers is correct. 
A)  ethnographers. 
B)  geographers. 
C)  cultographers. 
D)  None of the answers is correct. A

Question 4

Discuss the culture of an organization or a corporation that you know well. Pay particular attention to metaphors, stories, and rituals.

Accepted Answer

I am very familiar with the culture of t

Question 5

Following Pacanowsky's lead, write a fictional account of a real organizational culture. Be creative, but also be sure that your story communicates authentic features of the culture you choose.

Accepted Answer

I chose to write a fictional account of

Question 6

A(n) ________ helps to clarify what is unknown or confusing by equating it with an image that is more familiar or vivid.

Accepted Answer

A)  ritual 
B)  story 
C)  anecdote 
D)  metaphor 
A)  ritual 
B)  story 
C)  anecdote 
D)  metaphor

Question 7

The use of culture as a root metaphor was stimulated by Western fascination with the economic success of Japanese corporations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Geertz would regard the quest to alter culture as:

Accepted Answer

A)  appropriate if carefully planned and monitored. 
B)  the most important role of management. 
C)  easily achieved in the corporate world because of top-down control. 
D)  None of the answers is correct. 
A)  appropriate if carefully planned and monitored. 
B)  the most important role of management. 
C)  easily achieved in the corporate world because of top-down control. 
D)  None of the answers is correct.

Question 9

Collegial stories are positive or negative anecdotes told about others in an organization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Pacanowsky argues that culture is not something an organization has, but is something an organization:

Accepted Answer

A)  fears. 
B)  strives for. 
C)  is. 
D)  pretends to have. 
A)  fears. 
B)  strives for. 
C)  is. 
D)  pretends to have.

Question 11

Are corporations really cultures? How can we compare an organization with an entire society?

Accepted Answer

Corporations are often described as havi

Question 12

Actions by which members constitute and reveal their culture to themselves and others is what Greetz called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  cultural bonding 
B)  cultural exhibition 
C)  cultural identity 
D)  cultural performance 
A)  cultural bonding 
B)  cultural exhibition 
C)  cultural identity 
D)  cultural performance

Question 13

The intertwined layers of common meaning that underlie what a particular people say and do are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A)  analogical background. 
B)  thick description. 
C)  ethnographic metaphor. 
D)  frequency distribution. 
A)  analogical background. 
B)  thick description. 
C)  ethnographic metaphor. 
D)  frequency distribution.

Question 14

Geertz believes that an effective manager can manufacture a culture to suit the management's needs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Using Linda Smircich's commentary on research ethics as a springboard, discuss the clash between pragmatists and ethnographers of corporate culture. How do their research goals differ? Where do critical theorists stand in this debate? How about you?

Accepted Answer

Linda Smircich's commentary on research

Question 16

Geertz maintained that the way to understand a culture is to observe it as a stranger in a foreign land.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Central to the research method of the cultural approach to organizations is content analysis, which requires exhaustive frequency counts of the various activities of workers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

According to Pacanowsky, ________ is not just another piece of a puzzle; it is the puzzle.

Accepted Answer

organizati

Question 19

What does the study of corporate culture have to do with communication theory?

Accepted Answer

The study of corporate culture is deeply

Question 20

According to Geertz, close-knit societies have subcultures and countercultures within their boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 19: Cultural Approach to Organizations

Define and describe corporate culture. How and why does an ethnographer study it?

The job of a(n) ________ is to sort out the symbolic meanings of people's actions within their culture.

Researchers who "map out" social discourse are called:

Discuss the culture of an organization or a corporation that you know well. Pay particular attention to metaphors, stories, and rituals.

Following Pacanowsky's lead, write a fictional account of a real organizational culture. Be creative, but also be sure that your story communicates authentic features of the culture you choose.

A(n) ________ helps to clarify what is unknown or confusing by equating it with an image that is more familiar or vivid.

The use of culture as a root metaphor was stimulated by Western fascination with the economic success of Japanese corporations.

Geertz would regard the quest to alter culture as:

Collegial stories are positive or negative anecdotes told about others in an organization.

Pacanowsky argues that culture is not something an organization has, but is something an organization:

Are corporations really cultures? How can we compare an organization with an entire society?

Actions by which members constitute and reveal their culture to themselves and others is what Greetz called ________.

The intertwined layers of common meaning that underlie what a particular people say and do are referred to as:

Geertz believes that an effective manager can manufacture a culture to suit the management's needs.

Using Linda Smircich's commentary on research ethics as a springboard, discuss the clash between pragmatists and ethnographers of corporate culture. How do their research goals differ? Where do critical theorists stand in this debate? How about you?

Geertz maintained that the way to understand a culture is to observe it as a stranger in a foreign land.

Central to the research method of the cultural approach to organizations is content analysis, which requires exhaustive frequency counts of the various activities of workers.

According to Pacanowsky, ________ is not just another piece of a puzzle; it is the puzzle.

What does the study of corporate culture have to do with communication theory?

According to Geertz, close-knit societies have subcultures and countercultures within their boundaries.

Launching Your Study of Communication Theory

Talk About Theory

Weighing the Words

Mapping the Territory Seven Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Coordinated Management of Meaning Cmm

Expectancy Violations Theory

Social Penetration Theory

Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Social Information Processing Theory

Relational Dialectics Theory

Communication Privacy Management Theory

Media Multiplexity Theory

Social Judgment Theory

Elaboration Likelihood Model

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Functional Perspective on Group Decision Making

Symbolic Convergence Theory

Communicative Constitution of Organizations

Critical Theory of Communication in Organizations

The Rhetoric

Dramatism

Narrative Paradigm

Media Ecology

Semiotics

Cultural Studies

Uses and Gratifications

Cultivation Theory

Agenda-Setting Theory

Genderlect Styles

Standpoint Theory

Muted Group Theory

Communication Accommodation Theory

Face-Negotiation Theory

CC-Cultural Theory

Common Threads in Comm Theories

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