Leadership Week 5 - Org Culture

Questions and Answers

Which statement best describes the role of leadership in shaping organizational culture?

Leadership is primarily focused on following established protocols.

Leadership sets the tone and influences behaviors throughout the organization. (correct)

Leadership's impact is felt equally across all levels of the organization.

Leadership only affects the top tier of the organization.

What can leadership change to effectively alter an organization's culture?

The external marketing strategy.

The way the organization develops its leaders. (correct)

The overall employee compensation structure.

The mission statement of the organization.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of effective leadership?

Making decisions that influence others' behaviors.

Strictly adhering to hierarchical protocols. (correct)

Being a role model for others.

Developing innovative solutions to problems.

According to the principles outlined, leadership requires respect for what?

Core values of the organization. Signup and view all the answers

How do leadership behaviors influence others in an organization?

Leadership behaviors can improve employee engagement and commitment. Signup and view all the answers

Which phase involves holding open door sessions for staff feedback on proposed laptops?

Planning Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus during the Executing phase of a project?

Delivering value through completion of deliverables Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential external cultural source that can impact projects?

Customer Signup and view all the answers

Which activity is typically conducted in the Closing phase of a project?

Conducting lessons learned sessions Signup and view all the answers

What is one positive benefit of working in cross-cultural teams?

Enhanced innovation Signup and view all the answers

What should be valued in a product-oriented project culture?

People who can deliver measurable benefits Signup and view all the answers

How is success measured in a product-oriented project culture?

By the strength of the business case on paper Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes New Age Cultures?

Encouragement of bottom-up feedback and wealth sharing Signup and view all the answers

What attitude towards scope change is promoted in a product-oriented project culture?

Scope change is an opportunity to enhance value Signup and view all the answers

Which culture is characterized by internal conflicts and low morale?

Predatory Cultures Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of project teams in a product-oriented culture?

To show the true business value of their work Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized regarding funding in a product-oriented project culture?

Funding is a continuous process rather than a one-time event Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of Bureaucratic Cultures?

High degree of routine tasks and specialization Signup and view all the answers

Which culture is exemplified by organizations that are paralyzed by denial of change?

Frozen Cultures Signup and view all the answers

What best describes a Chaotic Culture?

Unclear vision and incongruent practices Signup and view all the answers

Which culture is likely to feature internal jockeying for influence?

Political Cultures Signup and view all the answers

Which culture is represented by a structured team with clear roles and responsibilities?

Bureaucratic Cultures Signup and view all the answers

In which culture do teams often face conflicts and are characterized by exploitative relationships?

Predatory Cultures Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary responsibility of senior leadership in building organizational culture?

To act as role models of the desired culture Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects the relationship between culture and strategy in an organization?

Culture is more important than strategy in executing business goals. Signup and view all the answers

How is leadership culture defined according to the content?

A set of beliefs and practices shaped by leaders' decisions and behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an interdependent leadership culture?

Leadership is seen as a collective activity benefiting the organization. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of leadership culture assumes that authority figures are primarily responsible for leadership?

Dependent leadership culture Signup and view all the answers

What drives the decisions and behaviors of leaders in an organization?

Leaders' conscious and unconscious beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes dependent leadership cultures?

They view leadership responsibility as residing with those in authority. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of repeated leadership practices within an organization?

They form the patterns of leadership culture. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of leadership styles, which style is characterized by a 'hands-off' approach?

Laissez-Faire leadership Signup and view all the answers

What essential role do leaders play in altering organizational culture?

They should recognize their obligation to change or create culture. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Leadership and Organizational Culture

Leadership influences behaviors by acting as role models; their values guide actions and decisions.
Effective leadership can reshape an organization's culture by altering leadership development approaches, as illustrated by Jack Welch's philosophy.
A positive leadership tone is critical, though not always felt at lower levels of the organization.

Types of Organizational Culture

New Age Cultures:
- Blend innovation with strong employee and customer commitment.
- Encourage bottom-up feedback and informal structures that foster idea sharing.
- Examples include Amazon and Spotify.
Predatory Cultures:
- Characterized by low morale, conflicts, and exploitative environments.
Frozen Cultures:
- Organizations in denial about necessary changes; an example is Hudson's Bay.
Chaotic Cultures:
- Lack of clear vision, leading to inconsistent policies; prominent in technology firms.
Political Cultures:
- Employees navigate internal politics and influence strategies, exemplified by Motorola.
Bureaucratic Cultures:
- Rigid structures focused on routine tasks and specialization, often found in banks and government entities.

Project Team Cultures

Specific project teams can embody particular cultures based on their dynamics:
- Bureaucratic: Structured with defined roles (e.g., office improvement projects).
- Chaotic: Unclear project direction and conflict-prone (e.g., downtown office project).
- Predatory: High conflict environments (e.g., staff relocation).
- New Age: Informal yet committed teams (e.g., IT support).
- Political: Competitive assignment strategies among training staff.
- Service-focused: Strong dedication to stakeholder needs (e.g., communication management).

Project Phase Culture Activities

Initiating: Project charter approval indicates cultural alignment with organizational goals.
Planning: Involves open-door sessions for stakeholder input on project-related decisions.
Executing: Value delivery and change management highlight the importance of executing strategies successfully.
Closing: Reflecting on lessons learned fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

Impact of Culture on Projects

External cultural influences can stem from project teams, sponsors, steering committees, or customers.
Cross-cultural teams benefit from enhanced communication, collaboration, innovation, and trust.

Changing Project Culture

Shift towards a product-oriented culture, emphasizing measurable benefits over process adherence.
Adapt evaluation of success; focus on delivering business value rather than merely adhering to initial objectives.
Foster adaptive methodologies that allow for project reprioritization based on value streams.

Leadership Influence on Culture

Leadership plays a crucial role in shaping organizational culture and must visibly embody the desired culture.
The concept of "culture eats strategy for breakfast" emphasizes that culture's influence will surpass strategic plans.
Leadership culture comprises beliefs and practices specific to organizational dynamics, enhanced by repeated behaviors that solidify cultural norms.

Leadership Culture Types

Dependent Leadership: Recognizes figureheads as the primary source of leadership.
Independent Leadership: Views leadership as emerging from individual expertise and actions.
Interdependent Leadership: Considers leadership a collaborative, collective effort benefiting the organization.

Leadership Styles

Varieties include charismatic, servant, and laissez-faire approaches, with each impacting organizational culture differently.

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Description

Explore the key principles of leadership as outlined in David Marquet's 'Turn the Ship Around'. This quiz covers the importance of role modeling, decision-making, and fostering community support in an organizational context. Test your understanding of how leadership shapes culture and behavior.