OLCU 613 Team Project: Building Strong Organizational Cultures
Length:
Due:
Value:
Post:
12 – 15 Power Point, Prezi or PowToon slides (excluding title page and References)
Sunday Midnight of Week 7
160 Points for 16% of the final grade
Discussion Board
Organizational culture is the character or personality of the organization; it is the shared values and
beliefs that are the social glue that holds the organization together and creates behavioral norms. Culture
has been compared to an iceberg because only 15 – 20 percent of it is visible in the form of artifacts such
as office décor and layout, dress code, rituals and ceremonies. Understanding an organizational culture
requires looking below the surface at norms, values, beliefs and assumptions people have to explain and
justify their behavior and actions.
Peter Drucker is credited with saying “organizational culture eats strategy for lunch”. Because effective
leaders know that culture is important in attracting, motivating and retaining talent, and a strong predictor
of organizational excellence, they emphasize building a strong culture that is aligned with the
organization’s vision, mission and strategy.
Building Strong Organizational Cultures Presentation Guidelines
Working in teams of 3 – 5, prepare a PowerPoint, Prezi or PowToon presentation that identifies 3 best
practices to build a strong organizational culture; describes, compares and contrasts the cultures of two
different organizations, and makes recommendation to enhance those cultures. A well-constructed
analysis will reference 4 or more scholarly sources, adhere to APA standards, and address the following:
• Identify and discuss three (3) best practices from scholarly sources to build a strong
organizational culture.
• Describe the organizational culture of two organizations identifying visible artifacts as well as
underlying norms, values, and/or beliefs; include one or more symbols such as a myth, hero or
stories that exemplifies the culture.
• Assess the impact of each organization’s culture on the performance and productivity of
individuals and groups, and determine if the culture encourages or hinders organizational
excellence.
• Compare and contrast 3 best practices to the cultures making specific recommendations for
improvement.
• Discuss 3 – 4 insights gained into organizational culture, the leader’s role in building strong
cultures and/or its impact on organizational excellence.
Evaluation Criteria for OLCU 613 Team Presentation
Report Elements
Best Practices
Exemplary
Proficient
Developing
Emerging
30 – 28
Clearly and concisely
discusses 3 best
practices to build a
strong organizational
culture by defining
key terms and
research to validate
effectiveness;
supports analysis
with 4 or more
scholarly sources
27 – 25
Fairly clearly
discusses 3 best
practices to build a
strong culture by
defining key terms
and research to
validate effectiveness;
supports analysis with
3 – 4 scholarly sources
24 – 21
Somewhat clearly
discusses 2 – 3 best
practices to but may
not define key terms
and/or provide
research to validate
effectiveness;
supports analysis
with 2 – 4 sources
which may not be
scholarly.
20 – 0
Limited if any
discussion of best
practices supported
by research to
validate
effectiveness. May
not support
discussion with
scholarly sources.
Description of
Cultures
25 – 23
Clearly and concisely
describes the cultures
of 2 organizations
identifying visible
artifacts and
underlying norms,
values, and/or beliefs.
Supports analyses
with relevant symbols
and/or evidence.
22 – 20
Fairly clearly
describes the culture
of 2 organization
identifying visible
artifacts and
underlying norms,
values, and/or beliefs.
May not fully support
analyses with relevant
symbols or evidence.
Impact of Culture
30 – 28
Comprehensively
assesses the impact
of 2 organizational
culture on individual
and group
performance and
productivity;
evaluates the impact
on organizational
excellence
27 – 25
Fairly accurately
assesses the impact
of 2 organizational
culture on individual
and group
performance and
productivity; evaluates
the impact on
organizational
excellence
19 – 17
Somewhat describes
the culture of 2
organizations
identifying visible
artifacts but may not
discuss underlying
norms, values,
and/or beliefs. May
not support
description with
evidence.
24 – 21
Somewhat accurately
assesses the impact
of 1 organizational
culture on individual
and group
performance and
productivity; may not
evaluate the impact
on organizational
excellence
Analysis and
Recommendations
25 – 23
Comprehensively
compares and
contrasts 3 best
practices with the
actual cultures of 2
organizations; makes
specific and valid
recommendations for
improvement
25 – 23
Clearly and concisely
discusses 3 – 4
insights gained into
organizational
culture, the leader’s
role in building strong
cultures and/or its
impact on
organizational
excellence
25 – 23
Presentation is clear,
informative; visually
interesting, easy to
read and the required
length. Uses good
grammar and
spelling, and is
focused. Includes
citations and
References from 4 or
more scholarly
sources.
22 – 20
Compares and
contrasts 3 best
practices with the
actual cultures of 2
organizations; makes
fairly specific and valid
recommendations for
improvement
19 – 17
Somewhat compares
and contrasts 2 – 3
best practices with
the actual cultures of
1 – 2 organizations;
makes general
recommendations for
improvement
22 – 20
Fairly clearly
discusses 3 – 4
insights gained into
organizational culture,
the leader’s role in
building strong
cultures and/or its
impact on
organizational
excellence
22 – 20
Presentation is clear,
easy to read, fairly
visually interesting
and focused. May by
5% too long or short
and/or have minor
grammar and/or
spelling errors.
Includes citations and
References from 3 – 4
scholarly sources..
19 – 17
Somewhat clearly
identifies 2 – 3
insights gained into
organizational
culture, the leader’s
role in building strong
cultures and/or its
impact on
organizational
excellence
19 – 17
Presentation is
somewhat clear but
may not be focused.
May by 10% too long
or short and/or
include numerous
grammar, spelling
and/or APA errors.
May not include
citations and
References from
scholarly sources
Insights Gained
Presentation
Clarity
16 – 0
Limited description
of the culture of 1 2 organizations.
May not identify
visible artifacts
and/or underlying
norms, values,
and/or beliefs.
Does not support
description with
evidence.
20 – 0
Limited if any
assessment of the
impact of
organizational
culture on
individual and
group performance
and productivity;
does not evaluate
the impact on
organizational
excellence
16 – 0
Limited if any
comparison of best
practices with the
actual cultures;
limited if any valid
recommendations
for improvement.
16 – 0
Limited if any
discussion of
insights gained into
culture, the leader’s
role in building
strong cultures
and/or its impact on
organizational
excellence
16 – 0
Presentation is
unclear, confusing
and/or difficult to
understand or read.
May by 15% too
long or short and/or
include numerous
grammar and/or
spelling errors.
Limited use of
sources and
adherence to APA
standards.
