The relationship of organisational culture with productivity and quality: A study of Indian software organisations

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of organisational culture on productivity and quality in software organisations, with special reference to India.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study was done in two phases. The first phase adopts qualitative methodology and examines the significant aspects of organisational culture, productivity, and quality and the nature of the relationship organisational culture has with productivity and quality. The second phase makes a quantitative analysis of this relationship.

Findings

The study develops a range of insights into the way cultural processes tend to influence productivity and quality in people centric and knowledge intensive work contexts such as software.

Research limitations/implications

This study employed perceptual measures of productivity and quality in the quantitative analysis. Future studies can develop objective criteria, which would facilitate robust quantitative analysis. Future studies should also explore whether the findings of this study have generalisability beyond the Indian context.

Practical implications

The study provides insights into the management of productivity and quality in contexts where work is characterised by high levels of abstraction and invisibility.

Originality/value

There are very few empirical studies on this relationship in dynamic and sophisticated work contexts such as software and this further contributes to the debate concerning the impact of organisational culture on effectiveness.

Citation

Mathew, J. (2007), "The relationship of organisational culture with productivity and quality: A study of Indian software organisations", Employee Relations, Vol. 29 No. 6, pp. 677-695. https://doi.org/10.1108/01425450710826140