What you’ll learn to do: Discuss the definition and levels of organizational culture

You’re likely pretty familiar with the word culture. Perhaps you’ve studied a foreign language, and learned about the culture of its native speakers. Or perhaps you’ve heard individuals talk about other people as cultured (or uncultured!). Any group has a unique culture based on its individuals and surroundings.

An organization’s culture can be influenced by various factors, but before we dive into the influences, let’s take a moment to define and understand what organizational culture is. Organizational culture incorporates beliefs, values, and priorities that contribute to an organization’s environment. Organizational culture is a complex concept to fully dissect and differs from one organization to the next.