Samantha BelabinVanessa Clara
Meagan MesirowRachel Sperber
The Symbolic Frame
What constitutes the symbolic frame?
⢠Key Concepts: Emphasis on culture, symbols, and spirit as keys to organizational success.
⢠Metaphors of the frame: The symbolic lens looks at organizations as temples, tribes, theaters, or carnivals.
⢠Aspects of organizations: Depicts organizations as cultures, fueled by rituals, ceremonies, stories, heroes, and myths.
⢠We create the meanings of symbols.
Chapter Overview
Ch. 12: Explore the many forms symbols take in our lives and how they are a part of culture.
Ch. 13: Apply symbolic concepts to team dynamics.
Ch. 14: Organizational culture in action.
Symbols
⢠An object that stands for a socially constructed idea beyond its initial use.
⢠âA symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else; it conveys socially constructed means beyond its intrinsic or obvious functional use.â
What logo is this & what do you think of when you see it?
What it means to people
⢠Camaraderie⢠Riding Free⢠The pride of owning a
product that has become a legend.
⢠Harley Owners Group: Way of Life
What is this logo & what does it mean to you?
Budweiser Clydesdales
⢠Aging⢠Family⢠Staying Connected⢠Brotherhood⢠Stability⢠Dominance⢠Tradition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2prAccclXs
Values⢠Characterize what an organization stands for.⢠Sense of identity for the company.⢠Boardroom to factory floor.⢠Mottos (or mission statements) can reflect the
ideology of the organization.⢠Ex) U.S. Marine Corps motto: âSemper Fiâ
Always faithful. Stands for tradition, sentiments, and solidarity.
âDiscover itâ Card Commercial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am13QuDpokk
⢠âWe treat you like youâd treat you.â
⢠Reflects their values and ideology of the company.
⢠Shows the workers following the companyâs motto and the customer is happy.
Slogan Quiz
1. Rethink Possible
2. Home is Calling
3. Youâre in good hands.
4. When youâre here, youâre family.
5. Eat Fresh.
Slogan Quiz cont.6. Have it your way.
7. Come hungry. Leave happy.
8. Expect More. Pay Less.
9. You are now free to move around the country.
10. Iâm Lovinâ It.
Heroes
⢠Human models influence our decisions and actions.
⢠Highlight behaviors valued by the organization.⢠Makes success in the organization âattainableâ
for the average person.⢠Their exploits, animated through stories, serve
as guides to choices we make in our personal lives and at work.
Heroes
⢠9/11 reminded Americans of the role of heroism in the human spirit.
⢠News shows run more âeveryday heroesâ segments.
Jared Fogle Subway Ads
He went from 425 pounds to a 189 pounds. He is a brand hero whose story was a sale-improving ad campaign.
Storytelling
⢠Communicates who you are and who your company is.
⢠Transmits values⢠Shares knowledge⢠Leads people into the future
Meaganâs Story
⢠Camp for All Kids
Vanessaâs Story
⢠On May 5, 1995, Melissa Aptman was murdered in St. Louis. A Miami native, she was just two weeks away from graduation from Washington University. A year after her death, Melissaâs family, friends and violence prevention experts established The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment to honor her memory and make a difference by working to prevent violence and assist victims.
⢠The Melissa Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and prevention of violence through education, community service, research support and consultation. The Instituteâs mission is to prevent violence and promote safer communities through education and application of research-based knowledge.
THE MELISSAINSTITUTE
For Violence Prevention and Treatment
The mission is accomplished in the following ways:â˘Educationâ˘Consultationâ˘Community Serviceâ˘Research Support
Rituals and Ceremony⢠Cultures rely on ritual and ceremony
to create order, clarity, and predictability.
⢠Bond a group together and instill the organization with traditions and values.
⢠Governs relationships within the organization.
⢠Newcomers bring elements of evolution and reform to help organizations grow and change. Traditions keep it grounded.
Rituals
Rituals and Ceremony
⢠Purpose of Rituals: Give structure and meaning to daily life.
⢠Ritual = everyday⢠Ex. A personâs everyday
routine brushing your teeth going to work watching a weekly episode
of television with friends
Ceremony⢠Purpose of Ceremonies: Inspire imagination
and deepen faith. Provide order and meaning.⢠Ceremony= episodic (happens at times of
transition or special occasions)⢠Examples: Familiar Ceremonies:o Holidays o Political electionso Celebrations such as UM HomecomingHuman Service Ceremony Types:o Annual conventionso Welcoming eventso Retirement ceremonies
Rachelâs Story
⢠Relay for Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yavQAQXPZMg
The Four Major Roles of Ceremonies⢠Socialize â Get everyone to
be a part of the same cause. ⢠Stabilize â Bind an
organization together in spirit.
⢠Reassure â Hear success stories and achievements.
⢠Convey messages to external constituencies â Make the organization accessible to outsiders, such as consumers and investors.
Organizations As CulturesWhat is culture?⢠âThe way we do things around here.â (Deal and
Kennedy)⢠âThe collective programming of the mind that
distinguishes the members of one human group from another.â (Hofstede)
⢠It is a product (of past experiences) and a process (renewed and re-created by newcomers).
Culture cont.
⢠Organizations develop distinct beliefs, values, and customs. Those who use these symbols correctly can shape more cohesive and effective organizations.
⢠Management practices and theories are culture-bound.
⢠Culture is built over time.⢠Beliefs, values and practices are passed on,
creating an organizationâs identity.
American Culture
Individualistic v. Collectivistic Culture
Tenants of the Symbolic Frame
⢠How One Becomes a Group Memberâ It must be a mutual choice
⢠Diversity Within the Group is Importantâ Each person has unique
skills and a unique style/perspective to contribute
â Tension among diverse groups can fuel a working team
Tenants of the Symbolic Frame
⢠Type of Leadership Can Foster of Limit Successâ One should lead by example, not commandâ Create ambiguity and encourage inventiveness to
direct group towards common goalâ Use subtle and implicit signals rather than
concrete and explicit guidelines
Tenants of the Symbolic Frame⢠Employ a Specialized
Languageâ Fosters cohesion and
commitmentâ Helps to reflect and shape a
groupâs cultureâ Allows team members to
communicate with little misunderstanding
â Visible sign of membership⢠Promote Storytelling
â Carry history and values while also reinforcing group identity
Tenants of the Symbolic Frame⢠Promote Humor and Play
â Helps reduce tension and encourage creativityâ Serves as a source of relaxation, stimulation, enlightenment, ad
spiritual renewal⢠Include Rituals and Ceremonies
â Helps to lift spirits and reinforce valuesâ These enclose and define special forms of behavior
⢠Have an Informal Culture Who Ministers to Spiritual Needsâ Make contributions disproportionate to their formal roleâ This person hears confessions, give blessings, maintains
traditions, encourages ceremonies, and intercede in matters of importance
Tenants of the Symbolic Frame⢠Secret of Success???â SOUL or culture
⢠Individual efforts go beyond the job
⢠Individuals are supported by a way of life that encourages each person to do something of significance
⢠Commitment is elicited, maintained, and accentuated through the other tenants of the symbolic frame
⢠Peak performance emerges as a team discovers its soul!
Organization As Theater⢠Organizations are judged on appearance and
outcomes.⢠The production reassures, fosters belief in the
organizationâs purpose, and cultivates faith.
Dramaturgical and Institutional TheoryDramaturgical Theory:⢠Redefines organizational dynamics.⢠Approaches organizations âas if they were theatrical (Goffman) or
âas theater (Burke).â⢠Focus on social interaction among individuals and on internal
situations.⢠Organizational life is scripted. We play out scenes.⢠Interface between organizations and the public. (How does this
appear to others?)Institutional Theory:⢠The interface between organizations and their publics.⢠Organizations are constantly buffeted by larger social, economic,
and political trends.
IsomorphismThe challenge of organizations is sustaining isomorphism.⢠Definition: The correct appearance and presentation
of an organization in order to keep faith with constituents.
⢠Benefit: Improve an organizationâs image. Presentation can be more important than tangible results.
The 3 kinds of isomorphism:1. Coercive- Orgs. Become more similar in response to
outside pressures2. Mimetic- Orgs. Copy each other3. Normative- Sharing ideas and combining them
within orgs.
Symbolic Structure As Theater
The symbolic view approaches structure as stage design to make an org. look credible to an audience. Tell a good story through the use of:
Lighting: Put a spotlight on the good.
Costumes: Blend in with clients/investors.
Audience: Know your audience and what they need to hear.
Symbolic Process As Theater
Meetings: Serve as expressive occasions and promote bonding. Issues get attention.Planning: Essential ceremony conducted periodically to maintain legitimacy.⢠Plans as symbols- âall is wellâ⢠Plans as games- âtest of willâ⢠Plans as excuses for interaction- forces discussion⢠Plans as advertisements- âinvestment brochureâ
Symbolic Process As Theater cont.
Evaluation: Assessing performances of different facets of the org.Collective Bargaining: Labor and management meet and negotiate issues until they come to an agreement.Power: Commodity that individuals or systems possess.Managing Impressions: Enacting symbols effectively.
Team Building Activity
⢠The Human Knot
The End
⢠Any questions?