Transcript Core Assumptions

The Symbolic Frame
Core Assumptions
Most of organizational life is ambiguous and
uncertain
Events have multiple meanings because people
interpret experience differently.
Important is not what happened but its meaning.
People create symbols and use metaphor to resolve
confusion, increase predictability, provide direction
and anchor hope and faith.
Myths, rituals, ceremonies and stories help people
find meaning, purpose and passion
Symbolic Frame
Organizational Symbols
An organization’s character is shown and communicated most
clearly through its symbols.
Central function of symbols: (Express meaning and feelings)
create order, clarity, predictability, handling paradox, protect
from uncertainty
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Myths and stories
They provide clarity and direction in the presence of
confusion and mystery.
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Rituals and ceremonies
They provide ways to take action in the face of confusion,
unpredictability and threat.
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Symbolic Frame
Metaphor
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Theatre, temple
Central concepts
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Culture, meaning, metaphor, ritual, ceremony,
stories
Image of leadership
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Inspiration
Basic leadership challenge
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Create faith, beauty and meaning
Symbolic Frame
Organizations as Cultures
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A distinctive pattern of beliefs, values, practices, and
artifacts, developed overtime, which defines for organization
members who they are and how they do things
Symbols embody and express an organization’s culture
Artifacts
Espoused beliefs and values
Tacit assumptions about how to do things and how things
get done
Artifacts
Espoused
Values
Underlying Tacit
Assumptions
Schein, 1985
Visible organizational structures
and processes (sometimes hard
to decipher)
Strategies, goals, philosophies
mostly (espoused theories and
justifications)
Unconscious, taken-for-granted
beliefs, perceptions,thoughts, and
feelings (theories-in-use; ultimate
source of values and behavior )
Levels of Culture
UMKC Stated Core Values
http://www.umkc.edu/aboutumkc/values.
asp