"Brings together leading authorities' major approaches to understanding, managing, and changing organizational cultures. Presents methods for identifying cultural norms, strengthening positive aspects of existing cultures, and building new cultures to support organizational goals and strategies."--Sloan Management Review

Management of organizational culture is a controversial topic. Pragmatists argue that it can be, should be and has been easily managed and they offer guidance how to do this, whilst purists find it ridiculous to talk about managing organizational culture: it cannot be managed, it evolves. Contributions to this fascinating book cover the following topics: * the relationship between leadership and organizational culture * the study of the role of organizational culture in four distinct cases * a change project of managerial culture * the FOCUS-instrument for measuring organizational culture * the main influences of organizational culture on its individual members * critical questions for future research. The editors do not intend to give final answers to this ongoing discussion, but to contribute to the debate and aid understanding. The contributions guide practitioners and researchers through the complex issues to avoid possible pitfalls.

Corporate Culture and Organizational Symbolism.

In response to the challenges of globalization and local development, educational reforms are inevitably becoming one of the major trends in the Asia-Pacific Region or other parts of the world. Based on the most recent research and international observations, this book aims to present a new paradigm including various new concepts, frameworks and theories for reengineering education. This book has 21 chapters in three sections. Section I "New Paradigm of Educational Reform" containing eight chapters, illustrates the new paradigm and frameworks of reengineering education, fostering human development and analysing reform policies and also discusses the trends and challenges of educational reforms in the Asia-Pacific Region. Section II "New Paradigm of Educational Leadership" with five chapters aims to elaborate how the nature, role and practice of school leadership can be transformed towards a new paradigm and respond to the three waves of education reforms. Section III "Reengineering School Management for Effectiveness" with eight chapters aims to provide various practical frameworks for reengineering school management processes and implementing changes in school practices.

With his usual engaging and inimitable style, Mats Alvesson takes the reader on a riveting journey through the diverse ways in which culture itself can be understood and how these powerfully inform organizational life.′ - Blake E. Ashforth, Arizona State University ′Understanding Organizational Culture comunicates complex ideas in a manner that will illuminate for those who are less familiar with the concepts discussed, as well as providing a depth and critique of interest to those familiar with the topics.′ - Claire Valentin, The University of Edinburgh Unlike prescriptive books about organizations, Understanding Organizational Culture challenges and provokes the reader to think critically. It provides an insight into organizational culture, aided by numerous empirical illustrations from ethnographic studies that develop and illustrate how cultural thinking can be used in managerial and non-managerial organizational theory and practice. Mats Alvesson answers questions of definition, explores alternative perspectives and exands on substantive issues, before discussing key issues of research and developing his framework. Further more, the advances in the field of organizational culture are synthesized for the reader by drawing upon the range of relevant literature within organization studies. Understanding Organizational Culture provides great breadth within a textbook approach - covering a wide spectrum of management and organization while at the same time developing a new theoretical approach to organizational culture. The new edition contains improved pedagogy and expanded coverage of topics such as identity and organizational change. It is essential reading for students taking undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Organizational Behaviour and Organizational Theory on Management and Organization Studies programmes, including MBA.