Studying organizational cultures through rites and ceremonials

Studies of organizational culture frequently focus on discrete cultural forms and do not place phenomena studied within an overarching conception of culture. In addition, overlap and confusion in terminology exist across studies. To alleviate these problems, distinguishing definitions are presented...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Academy of Management review 1984-10, Vol.9 (4), p.653-669
Main Authors: TRICE, H. M, BEYER, J. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Corporate culture
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Implications
Isotopes
Organizational behavior
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Social impact
Social psychology
Values
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Summary:Studies of organizational culture frequently focus on discrete cultural forms and do not place phenomena studied within an overarching conception of culture. In addition, overlap and confusion in terminology exist across studies. To alleviate these problems, distinguishing definitions are presented and an argument made for the study of rites and ceremonials, which consolidate multiple cultural forms. A typology of rites and ceremonials is also presented, illustrated, and discussed. The 6 rites studied are those of: 1. passage, 2. degradation, 3. enhancement, 4. renewal, 5. conflict reduction, and 6. integration. The implications of cultural studies for research and practice are discussed. The emphasis on culture could enhance the study of organizations by: 1. drawing researchers' attention to previously unexamined phenomena, and 2. providing new and better understandings for previously studied phenomena.
ISSN:0363-7425
1930-3807
DOI:10.2307/258488