TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose–This paper aims to contrast the cultures of two organizations – the US Navy's nuclear‐submarine force and large pharmaceutical firm Merck – through the experiences of former naval officer turned pharmaceutical salesman, Howard Roark.Design/methodology/approach–The paper starts and finishes with Howard Roark's appraisal. It considers the history of Merck, and Admiral Rickover and the nuclear navy, and explains Roark's employment history.Findings–The paper shows how Roark's challenges in adjusting to Merck were interpersonal and political, and how leadership skills need to be adapted according to the environment.Practical implications–The paper gives an insight into managerial skills, human resource strategy and organizational behavior.Originality/value–The paper illustrates the importance of being able to adapt to different organizational cultures.
VL  - 17
IS  - 7
SN  - 0967-0734
DO  - 10.1108/09670730910996545
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730910996545
PY  - 2009
Y1  - 2009/01/01
TI  - Merck salesman “haunted” by his past: The challenge of adapting to a different organizational culture
T2  - Human Resource Management International Digest
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 26
EP  - 28
Y2  - 2024/04/16
ER  -