How would you (and those within the organization) describe the corporate culture of this organization?
Introduction
The non-profit organization selected is the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. This is an NGO that supports humanities education and research in Virginia. The organization was established in 1974. They offer a variety of programs and resources, including fellowships, grants, and public humanities projects with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. More specifically, the organization helps Virginians better understand each other by exploring their history, culture, and traditions through sharing Virginia’s stories and exploring experiences traditionally left out of mainstream narratives. The interview was conducted on 29th August with Jennie Taylor, Facilities and Services Manager. Taylor has served as the Facilities and Services Manager for two years now.
Interview Questions and Responses
1. How would you (and those within the organization) describe the corporate culture of this organization?
The interviewee described the corporate culture of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities as one shaped by their mission, values, and Virginian staff from different sectors such as education, government, cultural communities, business, and civic groups. The organization is driven by its commitment to making a difference in the world through the support of passionate staff who are motivated by a desire to help other Virginians better understand their history and existence. Those who work within the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities would describe the corporate culture of the organization as collaborative and inclusive as the organization works with every staff closely to achieve their goals of promoting diverse voices and perspectives from Virginians.
2. How do you think those outside of the organization would describe the culture of this organization?
Those outside of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities would describe its culture as community-driven and an organization that is after the education and empowerment of the people and their culture. The organization’s reputation for supporting local communities, and facilitating thoughtful conversations about important societal issues creates an impression of a forward-thinking and socially conscious institution. For instance, through the organization’s fellowship programs for projects, educators, community scholars, and other Virginians are able to discover stories about Virginia’s history and culture. In other words, those outside the organization view it as a resourceful tool that helps them uncover their identity.
3. What are the visible indicators of this organization’s culture (You may want to explain Schein’s “Three Levels of Culture,” specifically the level of artifacts?)
After explaining what artifacts are in reference to Schein’s “Three Levels of Culture”, the interviewee revealed that the visible indicators of the organization can be described by the language of inclusivity as well as the casual dress code. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities employees are encouraged to dress casually as long as they do so respectfully, and the language that is used in the organization is respectful and inclusive. According to Johnson, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities has been a center for inclusivity and integrity since its inception. The organization has worked for almost five decades to help the people of Virginia understand their traditions, past history, and future.
4. What are the beliefs and values that help to drive the organization’s culture? (You may want to explain Schein’s “Three Levels of Culture,” specifically the level of espoused beliefs and values.)
The beliefs and values that drive the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities culture, as per Schein’s model, are rooted in a strong commitment to the importance of the humanities in society, the power of storytelling, and the promotion of inclusivity and diverse perspectives. The organization’s mission is to use education and research to people understand their experiences through an all-round education on humanities. The organization’s culture is in transition, in an effort to help Virginians understand and confront the changing economic and technological changes that might affect their future. The organization values those voices and the work of marginalized communities in Virginia and seeks to work with them toward achieving the goal of an equitable and better Virginia.
5. What are the basic underlying assumptions that provide a foundation for the organization’s culture? (You may want to explain Schein’s “Three Levels of Culture,” specifically the level of basic underlying assumptions.)
At the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the key assumption that provides a foundation for the organization’s culture is the belief that shared humanity and bringing people together fosters empathy and understanding for one another within a community. This shared humanity contributes to a richer cultural fabric where everyone can participate in building an inclusive society. The organization has contributed to positive outcomes in the community since everyone is convinced that they can contribute something to create a story that will remain the cornerstone of cultural history. The organization has also strived on the belief that shared stories bring meaning to lives, build capacity for empathy, and connect people.
6. What process is used to ensure new employees understand and embrace the organization’s culture?
To ensure new employees understand and embrace the organization’s culture, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities likely employs an onboarding process that includes introductions to the organization’s mission, values, and history. The organization’s leading team does a follow-up to ensure that new staff are given a good overview of the organization’s priorities and how it wants its employees to behave. New hires are also encouraged to participate in various projects, attend fellowships, and attend events that showcase the organization’s work and values, allowing them to absorb the culture through hands-on experience. New employees are usually given a chance to participate in training and development opportunities.
7. If the organization utilizes volunteers, what is the process of recruiting and managing volunteers?
At Virginia Humanities, the key aim is to share stories that help the people of Virginia understand their lives and the experience of being a Virginian from the perspective of lived experiences. As such, anyone volunteering to share their story is first given a head start to the mission of the organization and the expectations from the story. Similarly, the staff are approved based on their commitment to inclusion and passion for the humanities. Those who volunteer are mostly encouraged to be representatives of the diverse and intersecting identities that contribute to the history of Virginia and its people, culture, and traditions.
8. What is the process for making important decisions across the organization?
The management at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities works towards ensuring that all decisions made are transparent and inclusive, with all stakeholders having a chance to participate. For instance, the organization’s board of directors oversees policy and programming within the organization as the organization’s highest governing body. The board members approve decisions made at the lower level of the organization as long as they are in accordance with its mission and values. At the lower level, employees are encouraged to share their ideas and perspectives, and decisions are made based on the best available information. In other words, all decisions are usually guided by the organization’s mission and values, with an emphasis on achieving its broader goals related to promoting the humanities, fostering cultural understanding, and engaging with Virginians.
Conclusion
NGOs have a corporate culture that is mostly crafted to benefit the community around where they operate. They are mission-driven and their mission is to have on-board people who are passionate and motivated by a desire to help others. The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities has been doing that for decades where it has allowed Virginians and other important stakeholders within Virginia to participate in creating stores that showcase the history of the community. This gives the organization, its employees, and other stakeholders a sense of purpose and helps to create a shared sense of identity.
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