Organization Culture and Value Creation Framework

Discussion Questions 11

Let’s consider how an organization’s culture can have a strong influence on employee behavior. A positive culture motivates and energizes employees by appealing to their higher ideals. Internalizing the firm’s values and norms, employees feel that they are part of a larger, meaningful community attempting to accomplish important things. When employees are intrinsically motivated this way, the firm can rely on fewer levels of hierarchy; thus, close monitoring and supervision are not needed as much. 

1. Consider an employment experience of your own. Describe to the best of your ability the values, norms, and artifacts of the organization. What was the socialization process of embedding the culture? Do you consider this to be an example of an effective culture for contributing to the organization’s competitive advantage? Why or why not?
2. What makes some strong cultures helpful in gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage, while other strong cultures are a liability to achieving that goal?

Discussion Question 12

1. The shared value creation framework provides help in making connections between economic and societal needs in a way that transforms a business opportunity.  Taking the role of a consultant to Uber (ride-hailing service), discuss how Uber might move into fields serving more of a societal need. Provide some suggestions or concrete actions the firm can take that would connect its economic and social needs.
2. The Business Roundtable has recommended that the CEO should not also serve as the chairman of the board. Discuss the disadvantages for building a sustainable competitive advantage if the two positions are held by one person. What are the disadvantages for stakeholder management? Are there situations where it would be advantageous to have one person in both positions?