Exploring corporate departmental cultures: a function-based approach to setting culture

Abstract

Changes in the business environment leads to changes in an organisation's objectives. The adaptability of organisational culture is crucial to meet these environmental changes using a function-based approach that supports the corporate strategy. Organisational objectives are implemented by departments in a functional structure who each have their own departmental functions that informs their departmental culture. Using semi-structured interviews of 18 departmental managers from six typical departments in medium-large firms this research explores the concept of departmental culture, as a subculture in this cross-sectional study. Thematic analysis with the use of the Competing Values Framework found that primary activity departments have a wider spread of cultural traits across the dimensions of the Framework whilst support activity departments require a specific cultural type to meet their departmental functions and collectively achieve corporate objectives. Although the primary purpose of organisational culture as a tool that aligns the organisation to its overarching objective should not be undermined, the findings underpin a concept in that ‘the organisation is at its best position to implement strategy and achieve organisational objectives when organisational culture is aligned to departmental culture’. This study promotes future research from the exploratory findings on the concept of ‘departmental cultures’ within corporates that promotes an organisation objective in the changing business environment.