Organizational Culture Analysis

Symbols of culture are called artifacts. Artifacts are the most visible and accessible level of culture. These include behaviors, stories, rituals (everyday practices that are repeated frequently), and symbols (e.g., company logos, company colors). For example, the president of a company volunteering at Habitat for Humanity is an artifact of culture. An example of symbols as an artifact of culture is Ashford University’s shield that serves as our logo and is printed on transcripts, diplomas and letterhead paper. Submit a two- to three-page paper (excluding the title and reference pages) describing the culture of either your current or past place of employment.

Your paper should provide examples of and address each of the following topics:

1. Observable artifacts
2. Espoused values (These are what organizational members say they value, like ethical practice.)
3. Enacted values (These are reflected in the way individuals actually behave.)

In addition, describe how each item listed above impacts the values and culture of the organization.Your paper must use a minimum of two scholarly sources, in addition to the textbook. Your paper must also follow the APA Style guide.Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Total Possible Score: 10.00

Describes the Culture of One’s Current or Past Place of Employment

Total: 1.00

Distinguished – Provides a comprehensive description of one’s current or past place of employment.

Proficient – Provides a description of one’s current or past place of employment. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Provides a partial description of one’s current or past place of employment. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations – Attempts to describe one’s current or past place of employment; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance – The description of one’s current or past place of employment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Describes How Observable Artifacts Impact the Values and Culture

Total: 1.50

Distinguished – Thoroughly describes how observable artifacts impact the values and culture of the organization.

Proficient – Describes how observable artifacts impact the values and culture of the organization. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Briefly describes how observable artifacts impact the values and culture of the organization. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations – Minimally describes how observable artifacts impact the values and culture of the organization. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance – The description of how observable artifacts impact the values and culture of the organization is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Describes How Espoused Values Impact the Values and Culture

Total: 1.50

Distinguished – Thoroughly describes how espoused values impact the values and culture of the organization.

Proficient – Describes how espoused values impact the values and culture of the organization. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Briefly describes how espoused values impact the values and culture of the organization. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations – Minimally describes how espoused values impact the values and culture of the organization. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance – The description of how espoused values impact the culture of the organization is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Describes How Enacted Values Impact the Values and Culture

Total: 1.50

Distinguished – Thoroughly describes how enacted values impact the values and culture of the organization.

Proficient – Describes how enacted values impact the values and culture of the organization. Minor details are missing.

Basic – Briefly describes how enacted values impact the values and culture of the organization. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations – Minimally describes how enacted values impact the values and culture of the organization. Significant details are missing.

Non-Performance – The description of how enacted values impact the culture of the organization is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Written Communication: Content Development

Total: 0.50

Distinguished – Uses appropriate, pertinent, and persuasive content to discover and develop sophisticated ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Proficient – Uses appropriate and pertinent content to discover ideas within the context of the discipline, shaping the work as a whole.

Basic – Uses appropriate and pertinent content, but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Below Expectations – Uses appropriate and pertinent content, but does not apply it toward discovering or developing ideas. Overall, content assists in shaping the written work.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Critical Thinking: Explanation of Issues

Total: 1.00

Distinguished – Clearly and comprehensively explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering all relevant information necessary for a full understanding.

Proficient – Clearly explains in detail the issue to be considered, delivering enough relevant information for an adequate understanding.

Basic – Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, delivering minimal information for a basic understanding.

Below Expectations – Briefly recognizes the issue to be considered, but may not deliver additional information necessary for a basic understanding.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Reading: Analysis

Total: 0.50

Distinguished – Appraises tactics for relating ideas, text structure, or other textual features in order to gain knowledge or insight within and across texts and disciplines.

Proficient – Recognizes connections among ideas, text structure, or other textual features, to analyze how they support a sophisticated understanding of the text as a whole.

Basic – Recognizes the connections among portions of a text in considering how these connections contribute to a fundamental understanding of the text as a whole.

Below Expectations – Makes an effort to recognize portions of a text as needed to respond to inquiries posed in the assignment.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics

Total: 1.00

Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.

Proficient – Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic – Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations – Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: APA Formatting

Total: 0.50

Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient – Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.

Basic – Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements.

Below Expectations – Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Page Requirement

Total: 0.50

Distinguished – The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Proficient – The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Basic – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations – The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.  

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Written Communication: Source Requirement

Total: 0.50

Distinguished – Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient – Uses required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic – Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations – Uses inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.