VALUES AS A KEY COMPONENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

Abstract

The article addresses theoretical and methodological aspects of researching the structure of organizational culture and the system of its values. Organizational culture is understood as a system of values, norms, rules and traditions that exist (dominate) in the organization and determine the organizational behaviour of its members and the organizational style. The article explores Edgar Schein’s concept of organizational culture which includes three levels: surface (artifacts), subsurface (espoused values) and deep (assumptions). Values in organizational culture constitute the subsurface level, are a key structural component of organizational culture and largely determine the organizational culture itself. Values in organizational culture include terminal and instrumental values; terminal values, or goal values, are beliefs that a certain ultimate goal of the organization’s existence is worth achieving, while instrumental values, or tool values, are beliefs that a certain mode of action or personal feature is preferable for this organization and its activities. The organization’s mission is the main goal value of the organization. It formulates the strategic long-term goal of the organization’s existence and gives general justification for the organization’s purpose. The interrelationship between fundamental, declared and shared values of organizational culture is presented.