The Character of a Corporation

Citation

(1999), "The Character of a Corporation", Work Study, Vol. 48 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.1999.07948dae.003

The Character of a Corporation

Rob Goffee and Gareth JonesHarper Collins£19.99ISBN: 088730902X

Keywords: Organizational culture, Employee development, Organization types

This book categorises companies according to their prevailing culture - networked, mercenary, fragmented and communal. These are not necessarily all-pervasive - any one company may have different types at different levels, corporate, divisional, departmental, etc. Each if the types, according to the authors has both positive and negative attributes and the models are well-described. Tools, such as checklists and questionnaires, are provided so that the reader can diagnose his/her own organisation. This can help the reader both understand and fit in with the culture of the (part of) the organisation in which they work, modifying behaviour as appropriate. The book does not attempt to cover the important issue of culture change - it simply focuses on understanding the existing culture - but it would be churlish to criticise it for not being something it never intended to be!