Neuro-Organizational Culture : A New Approach to Understanding Human Behavior and Interaction in the Workplace

This book introduces a new concept on organizational culture, called "Neuro-Organizational Culture," or "Neuroculture"; a concept that is based on the most recent neuroscientific knowledge. The book describes a new approach to understanding human behavior and interaction in the workplace, replacing the old concept of organizational culture by one that takes into account humans' perceiving, feeling, thinking, and acting. Taking advantage of the substantial progress that has been made in neuroscientific research, the book combines experiences gained from organizational culture in the past 30 years with the latest findings from brain and emotion research, as well as with important insights from sociology and psychology. The book explains the three building blocks of Neuroculture: Reflexivity, Notions, and Emotions. "Neuroculture" consistently conceptualizes the culture of groups and individuals consistently under one roof, which allows for a better explanation of individual deviations. It provides a structural framework and an inventory along with proven methods and templates to analyze, continuously foster and actively change organizational culture. In addition, it outlines global megatrends in order to define cultural requisites that promote sustainable success of organizations in the 21st century Acknowledgment 8 Contents 10 About the Author 12 Chapter 1: Introduction 14 Cultural Competence—Key Competence of the Twenty-First Century 14 Linking Neurosciences and Culture 22 Wealth of Nations or “Why Nations Fail” 23 Chapter 2: 30+ Years of Organizational Culture 25 Why Bother? 25 From an Individual’s Perspective 30 Who Usually Cares About Organizational Culture? 31 Organizations 32 Genesis and Evolution of the Concept of Organizational Culture 33 Current Landscape of Concepts—Snafu and Deficiency 42 Edgar H. Schein’s Concept of Organizational Culture—A Critical Reflection 44 Description 45 Two Ultimate Problems of Every Group 46 Formal Definition of Culture 46 Schein’s Three Levels of Culture 46 Artifacts 47 Espoused Values and Beliefs 47 Basic Underlying Assumptions 48 Dimensions of Culture 49 Cultural Typologies 50 Deciphering and Analyzing Culture 51 Changing Organizational Culture 51 A Critical Review of Schein’s Concept of Culture 52 Interplay Between Individuals and Groups 52 The Three Levels of Culture, Which are Actually Only Two 53 No Alternative to Behave else than According to Basic Assumptions 54 Basic Assumptions = Instinct and Gut Feeling? 55 Too Rationalistic 55 Changeability of Culture 56 Cultural Typologies 57 Geert Hofstede’s Concept of Intercultural Management 58 Important Convergencies of Common Schools of Thought 61 Important Divergencies of Common Schools of Thought 62 Carrier of Culture: Individual, Group, “Cloud”? 62 What is the Link Between Organizational Culture and Success? 63 Qualitative 63 Quantitative 65 Conclusion: Organizational Culture and Success 69 Analysis of Organizational Culture: Qualitative vs. Quantitative 69 Organizational Culture and Traditions, Climate, Ethics or Values—Divides 77 Changeability of Organizational Culture 79 Summary 85 Chapter 3: Brain Science and Emotion Research 88 Neuroscientific Foundations 90 Structure of the Human Nervous System and its Evolution 91 Structure and Function of Neurons and Glial Cells 98 Glial Cells 99 Neurons, Synapses and Neuroactive Substances 99 Neuronal Representations of Functions 105 Brainstem: Medulla Oblongata and Pons 107 Cerebellum 108 Subcortical Structures 108 Neocortex and Limbic Lobe (Cingulate Cortex) 112 Endocrine System (Hormone System) 115 Structure and Functioning of the Endocrine System 116 Wellbeing and Euphoria 118 Stress 119 What’s in It for Organizational Culture? 123 Sensory System and Perception 126 Basics of the Processing of Sensory Inputs 129 The Visual System 129 Perception in the Other Sensory Systems in General 133 What’s in It for Organizational Culture? 135 Emotions 137 Emotions in the Brain 139 Neural Arousal of Emotions over Time 141 Bottom Line 142 Emotion Elicitation 143 The Effects of Emotions 146 Emotion Regulation 149 What’s in It for Organizational Culture? 151 Emotions in Bullet Points 157 Memory and Learning 158 Model of the Memory 158 Memory Processes 163 Memory in the Brain 165 The Role of the Hippocampus 167 Attention and Expectation 168 Cognitive Dissonance 171 What’s in It for Organizational Culture? 174 Chapter 4: Neuroculture 178 Lonesome George—A Mental Journey to Prehistoric Times 178 Neuroculture: Concept Introduction 183 Introduction 183 Concept Definition 185 Individual Culture 186 Group Culture 187 Building Blocks of the Model 188 Reflexivity 193 Methodization 195 Notions 204 Notions and Behavior 205 Structural Framework 207 The Inventory 210 Notions of the Domain ‘Goals’ 216 Notions of the Domain ‘Ex-/Inclusion’ 218 Notions of the Domain ‘Work’ 221 Notions of the Domain ‘Periphery’ 227 Notions of the Domain ‘Humans’ 228 Conceptions of Man and Human Needs 228 Drives 230 Human Constitution 231 Schwartz Value System 232 Notions of the Domain ‘Interaction’ 234 Communication Style 235 Ways of Competing (According to Pierre Bourdieu) 235 Granting of Power 237 Discrimination 238 Symbols 238 Physical Symbols 239 Habitual Symbols 239 Verbal Symbols 240 Notions of the Domain ‘Truth’ 240 Notions of the Domain ‘Time’ 244 An Example from a School 247 Emotions 248 Chapter 5: Management of Organizational Culture 255 Culture Analysis 259 Means 261 Guidelines of Finding 263 Project Execution 265 Templates 267 Culture Change 273 Measures 273 Overarching 276 Reflexivity 278 Notions 278 Emotions 281 Supplementary Measures 284 Communication 284 Storytelling 285 Case Study Glassco 289 Chapter 6: Cornerstones for Twenty-First Century Organizations 297 High Reflexivity 302 Mature Spectrum of Notions 303 General Culture 304 Leadership Culture 304 Innovation Culture 306 Emotionally Enlightened and Positive Balance of Emotions 307 Appendix: Blank Templates 309 References 313 Index 323 Annotation Introducing a new concept on organizational culture, called 'Neuro-Organizational Culture', or 'Neuroculture'; a concept that is based on the most recent neuroscientific knowledge, this book describes a new approach to understanding human behavior and interaction in the workplace, replacing the old concept of organizational culture by one that takes into account humans' perceiving, feeling, thinking and acting Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-11 30+ Years of Organizational Culture....Pages 13-75 Brain Science and Emotion Research....Pages 77-166 Neuroculture....Pages 167-243 Management of Organizational Culture....Pages 245-286 Cornerstones for Twenty-First Century Organizations....Pages 287-298 Back Matter....Pages 299-317