METAPHOR OF CULTURE

METAPHOR OF CULTURE

In most organizations, there are always behaviors that are accepted and have a particular pattern. Therefore, forming the concept of culture in an organization. Culture can also be seen where the workforce has a shared understanding of what they think, feel, and believe. Hence culture in an organization leads to the creation of a mini-society in an organization and the have its own culture and subculture. The movement of culture as a metaphor began when many of the scholars had different opinions on the rational model of organizations. Their argument of rationality came because of their belief that most of the decisions, mission statements, and goals in an organization usually have a plan and also follow many considerations.

According to Linda Smircich (1983) suggested two concepts on an organizational structure that include organizational culture as a variable and organizational structure as the essence of an organization. Linda believes that culture has a critical attribute that usually influences outcomes. The impact on results is generally seen in productivity and worker satisfaction. Culture, as the essence of an organization, helps in interpretive research focused on understanding the culture.  Organizational culture can study in an organization using signs, were members of the organization use interpretation to gain the meaning of the culture. The best way one can identify the culture of an organization an outsider is through monitoring day to day functioning of the organization. One should focus on the patterns of interaction between individuals, the language used by the employees, images, and themes explored during conversations, and the daily routines. According to James R. Taylor, “there is no organization other than that which emerges in communication.” Whenever an organization has a plan, it can only emerge through conversation. The mode of communication can also influence the view of participants, and communication makes people get to know what they have constructed. Culture in an organization yields formal statements of organizational philosophy, response to crises, organizational structure, the focus of attention, and exposure to other cultures. In many organizations, some barriers affect intercultural communication. They include perceptual disparity, ethnocentrism, language, and non-verbal disparities. Culture usually creates an organization to be better through good communication channels; hence communication can be linked to being the backbone of culture.

Many leaders in organizations usually want to make sure that they develop quality culture. The only way quality culture can be attained in the current era is through both the leaders of the organization and their employees have positive morale. Metaphor supports an organization by making sure it clarifies the culture and all the concepts that are associated with culture.  Therefore, it leads to a conceptual comparison that helps in valuing the idea behind each metaphor used. It also helps in bringing out the clear identification of the metaphor. Individuals in an organization should correctly associate themselves with the idea of an organization while using the organization metaphor. They should also make sure that they understand the concept behind the metaphor. In doing so, they will help in creating an environment that is healthier and productive. It will enable the organization to have better yields and progressive growth.

When leaders master the figurative language, they help them to be better leaders, through improving their creativity. The employees to increase their levels of creativity. The leaders are also able to understand better the employees and the different things that they go through in their day to day activities. Metaphors also influence the way managers and employees perceive and form opinions about values and beliefs. The managers and employees can see values from their perspective and leading to the creation of a belief. The creation of belief basing on values can help an organization in growing and having a specific value that guides and organizations day to day towards achieving its goal. It creates an environment that has an individual who is being motivated by the belief they have in the values they set. Some organizations use the values and beliefs to manipulate their employees, and it usually led to a negative effect on the employees. There is a need for organizations to make sure that the application of the values and belief are towards making a stronger organization but not a manipulative organization.

The use of a metaphor like organization as machines, it is a metaphor that helps in describing the organization structure and efficiency. Most of the managers in organizations usually want to express the idea that the people under them are very efficient and working smoothly. As much as the manager wants to show that the organization is working smoothly, the people who do the work go through a lot of suffering. Some employees are usually overworked since when they got the job, that was the culture that existed. It is not easy to change a culture that dominates an organization. The only thing a person can do is to join the workforce and continue doing what is usually done. As much as it is a culture, organizations should move away from the behavior of misusing their labor for beneficial gain. There is a need to make sure that both parties benefit. That can be achieved by paying the employees depending on the work they are doing.

Focusing on the metaphor, organizations as the brain, it gives a picture of the complex activities that are usually done by an organization. The brain can be said to be always everchanging and evolving. They are representing an organization that always makes sure that it has a progressive growth. Organizations should be places where the employees get an opportunity to learn, which is through making sure that the employees are well exposed. Organizations that keep changing make sure that the employees can gain knowledge and be a better place in the coming future. Hence it helps in developing the intelligence of the employees who work in that organization. It also equips employees with having a positive mindset that helps in making sure people are productive even in the worst situation. There is a need for organizations to make sure that their workforce has opportunities that will help them grow career-wise. The need to motivate the workforce. For people to always have a positive mindset, focusing on learning and being more intelligent.

Metaphor of culture helps in making sure that people express their imagination in an organization. It helps in putting order and clarity in the particular circumstance that is usually dominated by vagueness and dubiety. Metaphors also influence the way individuals treat the information they receive, hence leading to individual decisions. They help in creating an organization where people do things according to the culture that exists. In some instances, this can help an organization to be more productive.