The Myth of Organizational Culture: How Leaders Misunderstand the Role of Paradigms and Power - Paperback

by J. W. Traphagan (Author)

This book's creative and new approach to understanding how organizations work describes the embedding of organizational paradigms in larger cultural contexts. These contexts significantly influence how individuals within organizations think about and respond to organizational power structures, as well as organizational items such as mission and value statements. Culture cannot simply be used to socially engineer collective behaviors like teamwork and loyalty, as culture can just as easily be a source of conflict as well as a source of unity.

As the author discusses, leaders, rather than focusing on culture, should seek to understand issues related to power as they consider organizational operations and potential directions for change. A radical departure from much work related to organizational dynamics, this book offers invaluable insights for organizational leaders and others interested in organizational change.

Author Biography

J. W. Traphagan, PhD, is professor emeritus in the human dimensions of organizations program at the University of Texas at Austin and affiliated faculty with the organizational dynamics program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles and lives in the Metropolitan Boston area.