Organizational Culture Research and Analysis: A Comprehensive Report

This report offers a comprehensive analysis of organizational culture, its impact on business operations, and the significance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It begins by summarizing a research article that explores the definition and importance of organizational culture, drawing on insights from various perspectives. The report identifies key arguments, assumptions, and limitations of the research. Furthermore, it includes a case study of Apple's CSR initiatives, highlighting its commitment to empowering workers, upholding human rights, promoting clear energy, and fostering diversity. The report also analyzes two peer-reviewed journal articles that examine the impact of CSR on organizational performance. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of culture in shaping an organization's identity and market proposition. This report is a valuable resource for understanding the dynamics of organizational culture and its implications for business success.

Running Head: RESARCH AND ANALYSIS
RESARCH AND ANALYSIS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Name

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RESARCH AND ANALYSIS
Main argument presented in the article:
The research article specifically deals with understanding the vitality and significance of
organization’s culture on the operations of the organization. According to Michael D. Watkins in
his research article What is organizational culture? And why should we care. Harvard Business
Review, 15 (2013), he clearly states that without a proper definition of culture it is extremely
difficult to analyze its significance in context to an organization’s functioning and its overall
impact. Thus in order to find a definite answer to the question, the author started a discussion on
the global social media platform LinkedIn where he received a variety of responses and
acknowledge varied range of perspective pertaining to this field of discussion. According to the
insight gathered the main argument states: firstly culture is a very consistent and demands critical
observation to analyze its impact on the organization’s behavior and it is incorporated in the core
organizational structure. Secondly, organizational culture is often modified by the power f
incentivizes. As mentioned by Alec Haverstick, “In large part, culture is a product of
compensation.” Thus the incentives incorporate both monetary and nonmonetary benefits. The
third argument states that culture is often referred as a process of sense-making. This means that
culture often acts as catalyst in bringing more awareness and better understanding of the dynamic
perspectives of varied individuals thus helping in better collaboration and team work. The fourth
argument revolves around stating culture as a carrier of meaning (Watkins, 2013).Culture
specifically operates in understanding and defining a specific organizational story which is built
around people of that organization, their values and rituals. Culture must function to interpret
idiosyncratic languages that is sings and symbols to understand the dynamics of the
organizational setting. The fifth argument centers on establishing the culture as a core

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ingredient of a social control system. Here culture plays a role of defining an individual’s
consciences and guiding his morals to help him or her distinguish between the right and wrong,
and between the just and unjust. Here culture is considered as an important aspect of defining
behavioral norms. The sixth argument states that defining culture in lieu of a global
organizational setting is often complex because it has been observed that there is an overlapping
of other cultures. The seventh arguments deals with understanding how a company’s decision
regarding its acquisition and integration substantially cast impact on the organization’s
cultural orientation. And the final argument presented in this research paper deals with
identifying the dynamism of organizational culture as it is constantly shaped by varied internal
as well as external organizational changes.
Assumptions and Limitations of this research article:
The core assumptions of this research article is in establishing the perspectives so culture
in an organizational setting. The article predominantly states how culture plays a very crucial
role in directing and coordinating the function of varied internal as well as external
organizational factor. According to Albert S Humphrey culture often shapes the internal and
external identity of an organization and how it is perceived (Mokgosi, 2017). The article also
states that organizational culture is an amalgamation of variety of other aspects and cannot be
dealt in isolation and often plays a very crucial role in the team building operation of any
organization. However the basic limitations that can be identified during the analysis of this
research article is: the article takes a very broader approach while defining culture however does
not provide an industry specific analysis of the same. It is a known fact that very industry has
its own cultural norms and values and the organization’s culture is also modified accordingly.

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However the research article gives a broader view to this discussion. It also overlooks the
importance of an organization’s leader and his role in shaping the overall organization’s
culture. It has been observed that the role of organizations leader stands immensely crucial is
analyzing the organization’s mission, vision and over all cultural orientation.
Main conclusion of the article:
The main highlights of this article is the vividness of defining culture in the preview of an
organizational structure. The article has emphasized in incorporating a variety of views and gain
a global perspective on the importance and credibility of culture in defining an organizational
setting. Michael D. Watkins has aimed to provide a very wide approach in understanding the
cultural dimensions by inviting a host of experts to share their view through a global social
media platform. Analyzing this research article helps in revising the perspective that one holds in
defining how culture can shape an organization’s structure and function. Culture helps to
establish a definite brand identity which in turn helps in establishing a unique market proposition
of the brand in the global market.
Main ideas of discussion and analysis:
The main ideas and discussions of this research article is in providing a structural framework for
understanding the role of culture and how global organizations function keeping a close tie
between the cultural needs and the business needs of the organization.

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RESARCH AND ANALYSIS
CSR initiatives by an Organization:
The increasing significance of corporate social responsibility and its implication in the
organization’s working justified why the business conglomerates are becoming much more
aware about abiding by their sustainable developmental norms. One of the significant example of
such brand which is integrally associated with taking exclusive community welfare initiative is
the technology and innovation giant apple. Some notable CSR initiatives undertaken by the
organization includes:
 Empowering the workers by providing them with professional training
 Apple lends excessive importance in safeguarding the labor and uplifting human rights.
Thus, in 2018 Apple took a bold step and removed approximately five mineral suppliers
from its supply chain or failing to pass or not being willing to participate in human rights
audits
 Apple took the initiative of launching a group health clinic exclusively for its employees
and their families.
 One of the most important aspect of Apple is in strongly emphasizing on building a
gender equal work environment and lending utmost security to the minorities. The
company emphasized on building equal pay to employees in the year 2016. The
organization always ensures to employee 50 % of their staffs from the minority sector
consisting of women, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Native Hawaiian & Other
Pacific Islander.

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 Another very significant aspect of Apple’s CSR activity include its conversion to
promote clear energy. The multinational technology company has committed to bring 4
gigawatts of renewable power online by 2020. Apple also emphasizes on reducing waste
by offering recycling programs in more than 99 percent of the countries where it
operates.The company has also diverted more than 508 million pounds of electronic
waste from landfills since 2008.
Thus from the above mentioned CSR analysis it is quite evident how Apple, the
technology giant has emphasized in building up a sustainable developmental approach
apart from bringing constructive innovation in its product line. Apple has always
emphasized on maintaining a quality of production. However Apple’s pricing strategy
has always made the products cater to only a section of population has the price margins
are kept quite high. However the brand to reach to a larger section o population can bring
in desirable adjustments and flexibility in its operation and pricing strategy to help the
brand reach a larger section and affect more lives.
Analysis of two peer review journal:
The first journal Siddiq & Javed, (2014). Impact of CSR on organizational
performance. European Journal of Business and Management, 6(27), 40-45 which intends
to explain the main CSR activities in a contemporary business environment and how it
helps the business firm attain a competitive edge over its other contemporaries. While the
other article is Jonikas (2014). Value created through CSR measurement possibilities.
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 156, 189-193 which specifically highlights the
impact of CSR activities on the business performance.

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The first journal which intends to analyze the impact of CSR on organization’s
performance states that the empirical research can help organizations construct a more
appropriate CSR strategy that would ensure a better return on investment ratio for the
firm. (ROI) (Siddiq, & Javed, 2014). In the second journal states according to Polonsky
& Jevons (2009), “effective CSR requires extensive and careful investment on the
part of the organization. Organizations not only need to undertake activities in a
responsible way, but also need to understand how their activities are viewed by
stakeholders”. Thus these are termed as long term investment that are continuous in
nature and requires strategic planning of the whole process to ensure success. The article
underlines the key aspects of employing CSR initiatives in any organization.

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References:
Jonikas, D. (2014). Value created through CSR measurement possibilities. Procedia-Social and
Behavioral Sciences, 156, 189-193.
Mokgosi, N. (2017). Influence of organisational culture on strategic collaborations amongst the
supply chain partners(Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria).
Siddiq, S., & Javed, S. (2014). Impact of CSR on organizational performance. European Journal
of Business and Management, 6(27), 40-45.
Watkins, M. (2013). What is organizational culture? And why should we care. Harvard Business
Review, 15.