WHY BOTHER?

Abstract

Why is it important to understand culture? In this chapter I will provide an overview of the many ways in which culture matters. First, culture and leadership are two sides of the same coin and one cannot understand one without the other. Next, we have to understand that organizations are cultural units that have within them powerful subcultures based on occupations and common histories. We have to recognize that organizations exist within broader cultural units that matter in today ’ s global world because mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and special projects are often multicultural entities who must have the ability to work across cultures. Finally, we have to understand that the culture issues are different in young, mid life, and older organizations.