Many articles and books have been written in recent years about culture in organizations, usually referred to as "Corporate Culture." The dictionary defines culture as "the act of developing intellectual and moral faculties, especially through education." This writing will use a slightly different definition of culture: "the moral, social, and behavioral norms of an organization based on the beliefs, attitudes, and priorities of its members." The terms "advanced culture" or "primitive culture" could apply to the first definition, but not the latter. Every organization has its own unique culture or value set. The culture of the organization is typically created unconsciously, based on the values of the top management or the founders of an organization.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background of Culture
2.1. An Approach to Organizational Culture
2.2. Attributes of Culture: Internal Integration
2.3. Attributes of Culture: External Adaptation
2.4. Influence of Culture on Employees
2.5. Influence of Culture on Organizations
3. The Culture of the eBay Company and its Community
3.1. The Influence of the founder
3.2. The Rise of the Company and its Culture
3.3. Finding the Right CEO
3.4. The Culture and Community
3.5. The Concordance of Fundamentals
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This assignment aims to examine the concept of organizational culture by analyzing Edgar Schein's theory, which defines culture as "a pattern of basic assumptions." The research connects theoretical frameworks with a practical case study of eBay, exploring how founding principles and community-oriented values shape a global corporate identity.
- The theoretical definition and multidimensional nature of organizational culture.
- The impact of internal integration and external adaptation on firm performance.
- The influence of corporate culture on employee behavior, morale, and motivation.
- The unique cultural evolution of eBay, from its founding to its status as a global community.
- The role of leadership and shared values in maintaining corporate consistency.
Excerpt from the Book
3.4. The Culture and Community
The company makes much in its promotional literature about its “community of users” and how it is hed together by equality, empowerment and bonds of trust, mutual respect and responsibility between buyers and sellers but also between employees.
Even I, as one of many interns realized that at the very first minute of my summer job. When I got my badge I received a plastic card sticked to it which said: Our values
(1) We believe people are basically good
(2) We recognize and respect everyone as a unique individual
(3) We believe everyone has something to contribute
(4) We encourage people to treat others the way they want to be treated
(5) We believe that an honest, open environment can bring out the best in people
As we can see here, the values which came partly from outside the company through the community and partly from the founder, became a huge part of the culture within the company and not only in the United States but in every one of the more than 20 countries where eBay is today.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines corporate culture as the moral, social, and behavioral norms of an organization based on the priorities of its members.
2. Theoretical Background of Culture: The section explores scholarly definitions of culture and its dimensions, highlighting factors like internal integration, external adaptation, and employee influence.
3. The Culture of the eBay Company and its Community: This part examines the practical application of cultural values at eBay, focusing on Pierre Omidyar's founding vision and the role of leadership.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the theoretical analysis with the eBay case study, confirming that strong organizational cultures act as a foundation for long-term survival.
Keywords
Organizational Culture, eBay, Corporate Values, Internal Integration, External Adaptation, Pierre Omidyar, Employee Morale, Community of Users, Leadership, Strategic Direction, Corporate Identity, Business Management, Employee Commitment, Workplace Environment, Internet Commerce
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The paper focuses on understanding how organizational culture functions as a "pattern of basic assumptions" that influences behavior, structure, and performance within a company.
Which theoretical model is used to analyze culture?
The study primarily utilizes Edgar Schein’s framework of organizational culture, alongside other typologies from researchers such as O’Reilly, Denison, and Hofstede.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to test the validity of Schein's contention regarding cultural assumptions by defining organizational culture conceptually and evaluating its manifestation within eBay.
How is the analysis conducted?
The work employs a qualitative approach, combining a review of academic management literature with a personal case study of the author's internship at eBay Germany.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the definition of internal and external integration, the influence of culture on employees and organizations, and a historical and cultural analysis of eBay's evolution.
What are the key themes of the work?
Key themes include corporate values, the influence of founders on culture, the "community of users" concept, and how these elements foster organizational resilience.
Why was eBay chosen as the case study?
eBay is analyzed because it represents a unique internet-based business model where community participation and shared values are critical to commercial integrity and success.
How did eBay manage to maintain its culture during rapid expansion?
The company utilized strong leadership and explicit communication of core values—such as honesty and equality—to ensure that even as the workforce grew globally, the founding principles remained central to daily operations.
- Quote paper
- Boris Sosnizkij (Author), 2003, An Analysis of eBay's Culture, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/10791
