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I am going to introduce my undergraduate Foundations of Management class to cult-like or strong cultures in organizations. Any suggestions for short, seminal pieces I can give them? I know I've read a classic article on it, but I can't find anything in my book collection.

Thanks!

-Julie

Dr. Julie Urda

Assistant Professor of Management

Rhode Island College

600 Mount Pleasant Avenue

Providence, RI 02906

jurda@ric.edu%20">jurda@ric.edu

Julie,

There is Apple, at least while Steve Jobs was still around. I am not so sure that Apple's culture would be considered as a cult-like one, but there is an article that describes Apple's approach to creativity which might qualify. The title is "The Secrets Apple Keeps," by Adam Lashinsky, Sr. It was published in Fortune on Feb 6, 2012.

Another situation you could probably use would be Penn State's culture while Joe Paterno was still around. I would say that this situation qualifies as a cult-like. There was an article by Maureen Dowd titled Mora Dystopia and published in The New York Times on June 16, 2012. This might be helpful, but I am not so sure. 

Hope this helps,

Ivan

Hi Julie,

I like Ronnie's list, too.

Consider some of Jeff Pfeffer's writings from Stanford B School. They go outside of the "standard" thinking on the issues.

4 that I like are:

1.    The Knowing-Doing Gap {How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action}

2.    Competitive Advantage Through People {Unleashing the Power of the Work Force}

3.    Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths & Total Nonsense {Profiting from Evidence-based Management}

4.    What were They Thinking {Unconventional Wisdom About Management}

A lot of John Kotter's writings from Harvard B school as well. He is one of the "Fathers" of the early focus on the differences between Leadership and Management.

Hope this is helpful.

Bob

Robert N. Beck

Beck Consulting Group LLC

831.624.0454 (Office)

415.999.0552 (Cell)

831.626.2617  (Fax)

rbeck@sbcglobal.net

Linking Culture to Strategy

Hi Julie,

After reading your email again for short seminal pieces, I should have added, if you go to Jeffery Pfeffer's web page and click on "News" it lists his published short articles and a click button for "READ".

The articles are more current and easier for your class if the topic fits your course.

There is also when you Google his name a section of short videos you can review.

Bob

Robert N. Beck

Beck Consulting Group LLC

831.624.0454 (Office)

415.999.0552 (Cell)

831.626.2617  (Fax)

rbeck@sbcglobal.net

Linking Culture to Strategy

Hi Julie,

I like Ronnie's list, too.

Consider some of Jeff Pfeffer's writings from Stanford B School. They go outside of the "standard" thinking on the issues.

4 that I like are:

1.    The Knowing-Doing Gap {How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action}

2.    Competitive Advantage Through People {Unleashing the Power of the Work Force}

3.    Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths & Total Nonsense {Profiting from Evidence-based Management}

4.    What were They Thinking {Unconventional Wisdom About Management}

A lot of John Kotter's writings from Harvard B school as well. He is one of the "Fathers" of the early focus on the differences between Leadership and Management.

Hope this is helpful.

Bob

Robert N. Beck

Beck Consulting Group LLC

831.624.0454 (Office)

415.999.0552 (Cell)

831.626.2617  (Fax)

rbeck@sbcglobal.net

Linking Culture to Strategy

O'Reilly, C. & Chatman, J., (1996). Culture as social control: Corporations, cults and commitment. In B. Staw & L. Cummings (eds.), Research in organizational behavior. Vol. 18. (pp. 157-200) JAI Press. 

Best, 

Eli Kass

Assistant Professor

University of San Francisco 
School of Management
2130 Fulton Street 
San Francisco, CA 94117