Business Culture

Unit：Business Culture and StrategyUnit codeThe International College of Xiamen University14 HND GTBBusiness Culture and StrategyOutcome 1Unit code: F7J7 35Name:Student ID No. :Lecturer：Word Account：1000以上Contents1.0 IntroductionFounded in 1979, J D Wetherspoon is well known with its pub business offering chap beer, good conversation and solid architecture. J D Wetherspoon accomplished rapid development soon after its foundation. In 1992, there were already 44 pubs under J D Wetherspoon brand. However, same as other brand and organization, J D Wetherspoon has to face with the challenge and competition in the new century. As a result, J D Wetherspoon made every effort to get adapted to the new environment.This paper starts with the definition of shared value and “take for granted assumption”and then continues with the detailed analysis of the type of culture J D Wetherspoon adopts, the relation between organizational culture and behavior in J D Wetherspoon and how different the management approaches would be if J D Wetherspoon had adopted different culture.2.0 Main BodyAs it is known to everyone, culture is one of the core elements or the soul of an organization, to certain extent. It does not only help to drive the continuous development and growth of the organization, but also provides the basis for necessary organizational structure and management system. As a result, it is not difficult to understand every organization needs to develop the distinct culture which is the embodiment of the shared value and the basic assumptions of the organization.2.1 The Organizational Culture in J D WetherspoonSince culture plays such an important role to the success of an organization, it does matter for any specific organization to develop a reasonable and suitable culture, but what can be defined as reasonable culture? Generally speaking, it should definitely express the shared value and the “take for granted assumptions” of the organization.2.1.1 Definition of Shared ValueAccording to related academic research, shared value refers to the beliefs, concepts and principles that essentially express the culture of the organization. In the practice, shared value usually works as the basis for employee’s behavior. All those behaviors compliant to the shared value are encouraged for all employees. On the quite contrary, those behaviors disobey the shared value are prevented in the organization. As shared value is so essential to the organizational value, it is generally decided by the senior managers. 2.1.2 Definition of Take for Granted Assumptions“Take for granted assumptions” indicates the basic assumptions guiding employees how to perceive, think and feel about things. In the practice, it is usually taken for granted assumptions that employees sitting in office playing games or talking on the phone all day long is not permitted. Quite contrarily, it is commonly assumed that employees should work hard and commit their obligation in work. Different as the shared value, “take for granted assumptions”is not decided by the managers, but is developed gradually over time.2.1.3 Difference between Shared Value and “Take for Granted Assumptions”According to the definition analyzed above, shared value principally implies the concepts mutual recognized and accepted concepts, beliefs and principles while “take for granted assumptions” mainly refers to the way how employees think.2.1.4 Shared Value in J D WetherspoonThe top management in J D Wetherspoon has been always bear in mind the importance of organizational culture and the shared value to the company. Thus, every since the very beginning of the foundation, J D Wetherspoon upholds the shared value “cleanliness, beer, service and maintenance”.2.1.5 Take for Granted Assumptions in J D WetherspoonSimilar as the shared value, “take for granted assumptions”is equivalent important an organization. Thus, JD Wetherspoon respects every employee’s leisure time. In this company, it is not taken for granted that employee should sacrifice their personal time off work. On the contrary, the company arranges training courses, area meetings and shift management meetings in the working week. The only simple purpose for sucharrangement is not to occupy employees’ leisure time.2.2 The Type of Culture That J D Wetherspoon HasThere are different models of organizational culture, including the Zeus Power, Apolio Role, Athena Task and Dionysus Personal, and Tough guy/macho culture. Each model or type of culture presents distinct features. Related organization can develop the culture model suitable for the specific industry and corporate characteristics.2.2.1 Principle Culture ModelsOf all the culture models, Zeus Power focuses on the founder or the most power figures at the center of the web, with the power/influence emanating from the center of the web. Apolio Role attaches more importance to each individual who has the specifically assigned role. As for the Athena, each individual employee is the expert in their jobs and works with each other in certain project or task group. Dionysus Personal culture enables employees working together as convenient as possible. Tough guy/macho culture features quick response but the risks and rewords are too high.2.2.2 Tough Guy/Macho Culture in J D WetherspoonOne of the most unique features regarding to the Tough guy/macho culture is quick response as already analyzed in the above paragraph. Quick response can refers to many different aspects, such as quick feedback from customer or quick response to the market change and alike. As for J D Wetherspoon, the company adopts Tough guy/macho culture so that it can improve the strategy and operation in order to quickly response to the market change.2.2.3 Reasons of Tough Guy/Macho Culture in J D WetherspoonSince the end of last century, the global economic and political environment has been subject to the great change. In order to be quickly adopted to the new situation, top management J D Wetherspoon needs to be capable of quicker response to the market. This is the core reason why the company chooses the Tough Guy/Macho Culture as the organizational culture. As the new rule from MMC strictly limits the number of pubs which a brewer could operate, J D Wetherspoon quickly made the decision to enter the market as retailer so as to keep the constant and planned expansion of the brand.2.3 The Relationship between Organizational Culture and Organizational Behavior in J D WetherspoonGenerally speaking, the organizational culture is the core principle to guide employees’behavior. This rule also works in J D Wetherspoon which adopts the Tough Guy/Macho Culture. Faced with the new rule in brewing industry, J D Wetherspoon decided to enter the retailer market without any hesitation while the core feature of Macho culture is the quick response. From all these points of view, it is easy to understand the organizational culture is consistent with behavior in J D Wetherspoon2.4 Different Management Approaches if J D Wetherspoon Had Adopted Different CultureAs known to everyone, organizational culture plays a quite essential part in the daily operation and management of an organization. Thus, if the organization chooses different culture, then the related management approach would be quite different as well. For example, if J D Wetherspoon had adopted Zeus Power culture, then the staff would be recruited via relations with the existing employees and the staff would behave in the way the central Zeus figure would do or want. As a result, the employees would not be so professional and specialized as they are in J D Wetherspoon. Consequently, J D Wetherspoon would not be able to response so quick to the market change and thus the company couldn’t achieve or maintain such successful expansion.3.0 ConclusionOrganizational culture is so critical to the success and daily operation of an organization. Thus, the top management needs to consider and pay attention to the adoption and development of the organizational culture. Different culture model will result in varied types of organizational culture which would subsequently influence the specific management approaches in the organization. J D Wetherspoon has adopted the most suitable organizational culture to quickly response to the market change. Thus, it has achieved and maintained the successful & constant expansion even in the most fierce competition market.4.0 ReferenceKim S.Cameron, Robert E.Quinn Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture: Based on the Competing Values Framework[M]2011.Jossey-BassEdgar H. anizational Culture and Leadership[M] 2010.Jossey-BassEdgar H. Schein.The Corporate Culture Survival Guide [M]2009,Jossey-Bass。