Clues on Campus

Purpose: Being able to identify the culture of an organization is important to help behave in socially acceptable ways. The purpose of this activity is to help make the taken for granted assumptions that many of us hold in everyday locations and experiences and view them through the lens of organizational culture concepts discussed in class.

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Time frame: Approximately 45 minutes (30 minutes to investigate the assigned location, 15 minutes class discussion)

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Group Size: 4 -5 students per group

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Instructions:

1. Each group will be assigned a location on campus to analyze (I.e., registrar’s office, library, food court, etc.).
2. Go to the location that the group has been assigned and look for clues about the culture of each location.
3. Groups should consider:
   1. What does the layout communicate about the location?
   2.  What behaviours are expected by the employees? How do you know?
   3. What behaviours are expected by the customers? How do you know?
   4. What artifacts are evident at the location?
   5. What values are represented at the location?
   6. What assumptions are represented at the location?

Be prepared to discuss your experience with the class.