Symbol, ritual, and doctrine: the cultural ‘tool kit’ of TQM

Abstract

In this study I use Swidler's concept of the cultural tool kit to show how modern management strategies employ symbol, doctrine, and ritual to integrate new management methods, practices, concepts, and beliefs into the culture of organizations. Swidler's concept of cultural tools provides an interpretive mechanism to help explain how specific actors work to create, maintain and occasionally manipulate organizational cultures. By introducing such programs, leaders hope to dilute subcultural differences and promote corporate values of quality achieved through greater focus on the organization's problems and goals. Actors, thus, seek goals through approved, legitimate channels dictated by such a ‘tool kit’ rather than seeking goals based on pre-existing values, norms, and beliefs.