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How Culture Affects Productivity Essay

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The lunch-hour lecture may be a great idea, but it is not what we have in mind when we say that culture influences productivity. Mozart in the morning does not necessarily mean that five extra tonnes of ore will be produced per employee per shift.

When we speak of the culture of an organization, we refer to the behaviour patterns and standards that bind it together. Some organizational cultures encourage productivity; many do not.

Culture should not be confused with climate. Climate is the short-term mood of an organization. Unlike culture, it is fragile and subject to change.

How Beliefs Affect Culture

An organization''s culture encompasses everything it does and everything it makes. That is, it not only affects the manner in …show more content…

And if these employees challenge their managers on the sacrifice of quality in favour of quantity, and the managers reply, "You do your work and I''ll do the thinking," what are these employees likely to believe the company values most? If there is a logical reason for the change, such as the customer having indicated a preference for lesser quality at a lower price, then why not explain this to the employees? They will understand that the customer can and should dictate to the organization and not the organization to the customer.

Generally, behaviour patterns are most strongly influenced by the leaders of the organization. The words and actions of the quality control and production managers reflect the values and beliefs of senior management.

How Culture Affects Productivity

Organizational culture and productivity are closely related. Simply stated, productivity is the art of getting the company''s products and/or services to the customer at the lowest possible cost. But it is more than that - it is related to quality, to customer needs and to labour relations. In other words, productivity and good management are inseparable.

Productivity is a result of motivation, and motivation thrives in a good climate. If management is to transform this fragile good climate into a

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