Culture Analysis of Department of the US Army - Research Paper Example

US Army Organizational Culture US Army Organizational Culture In every organization or company, it should have an organizational culture, which displays how the company performs various operations and activities. The organizational culture of a company or an organization has three levels. The levels are behavior and artifacts, core values, and the assumptions. Behavior and artifacts are the most visible level. It is the observable level of organizational culture. The level consist of outward manifestations and behavior patterns: level of technology, dress code, perquisites provided to the executives, and the physical layout of the working places. All these are the visible of organizational culture, but sometimes it is difficult to interpret. In most cases, behavior and artifacts portray what a group is doing but it cannot give the reasons why they are doing it. The next level of organizational culture is the values. Values determine the behaviors, but they are not visible or observable like the behaviors. There is a great difference between the operating and stated values. Many people and organizations attribute their behaviors to stated values (Schein 103). Assumptions and beliefs grow from the values up to the point where they are taken for granted and dropped out of awareness. People may be unable to articulate or unaware of the assumptions and beliefs, which forms their deepest level of culture. For better understanding of culture, it is important for one to understand the three levels of an organizational culture, which is not an easy task. Another difficult task when studying organizational culture is cultural or group unit, which owns the culture. An organization may be having many different cultures or subcultures or even absents of specific or dominant culture in the organization. It is important to recognize the group or cultural unit for one to identify and understand the culture. Organizational cultures are created, maintained, and even transformed by people. Part of the organizational culture is created and maintained by leadership in the organization. Leaders who are in the executive positions are responsible in articulating core values, specifying norms and generating and re-infusing ideologies in an organization. Organizational values indicate or express certain outcomes or certain behaviors in an organization. Organizational norms express those behaviors, which are accepted by others by others in the organization. Organizational norms are the acceptable ways of pursuing goals through a cultural means. Leaders or executives establish rules or parameters message contents and lines of communication for an organization. Once the values and norms have been transmitted through the organization, permanence of organization’s culture is established. For any military organization to succeed in its operations in both peace and fight, it incorporates the key elements such as training, leadership, technology, and personnel or even combination of all the elements. Currently, concept and organizational culture has been added as one of the elements, which can contribute to the effectiveness, and efficiency of the US Army. Artifacts in the US military boost the levels of operations when serving in different duties. The perquisites given to the executives are one of the artifacts in US military (Reichard & Johnson 2011, p. 39). The executives who are the top leaders in the military are trained in high levels on how they can lead and control their troops during operations, raid, or any other attack that might happen. The executives are trained on how they can direct their groups in responding to any reported incidence. The leaders think and respond instantly on their duties to reduce delays or chronic damages, which might be caused by the enemies. In addition, the executives leaders in military are trained to be creative such that they can devise ways of responding to any attack or call on an emergency. Well-trained executives or top leaders in military boost the morale of other employees or staff working in the military. It is because they are sure and reliable on the directions and tactics given by their leaders. The junior staff in the US army does not hesitate in implementing the directions given by the executive leaders as trusts they plans and strategies. In the US army, the organizational culture defines the hierarchy in which the officers in different ranks operate. For example, the executives or officers in the management positions will issue commands or directions to the junior officers on how to handle various issues. The junior officers will observe the segregated duties because the commanders are in different ranks with better skills on how to operate. It would be difficult for the officers to issue directions to other officers if they were placed on the same rank without any superiority and distinction in the positions. The junior staff respects the orders issues by the senior staff as they are qualified to hold the positions in the military. The dress code used in US army makes the militants comfortable when working in various environments during operations. Militants in the US army are working in various weather conditions, which are unpredictable during their operations. The army has two different types of uniforms used in operations and official functions (Adamsky 2010, p. 175). The dress codes or uniform used during the operations are designed in a way that it protects the officers when they are operating in different weather conditions. For example, during the rainy seasons or gloomy weather conditions, the officers dress on waterproof jackets, which will protect them from the raindrops or cold. The dress code will also protect the officers when they are operating in forest, desserts, and others areas with thorns and others objects which might affect the officers. During the operation or even engaging on the enemies, the officers dress on bulletproof vests, which will protect them from the enemies’ bullets. The dress code encourages the officers to work in various terrains when protecting the country and its citizens. It is because they are sure the uniform they wear protects them from weather condition or any attack posed by the enemies. In addition, the dress code encourages many people to join the service due to the protective gear and presentable uniform during the official functions. The physical layout of the workspaces and equipments used by the officers during the operations boost their morale when facing the enemies. For example, the planes and vehicles used in the operations are designed in a way that they can operate in various terrains. Fighting vehicles can be used in different environments because they are resistant to any road infrastructure. In the areas, with impassable roads, the officers will not withdraw their efforts of pursuing the enemy. It is because they have the option of operating in the air using the planes. Planes will help the officers to identify or locate the enemies, which will be easier to attack or contained them. It is a major trick that the US army is using when pursuing the enemies because they are not limited by any terrain. The US army can pursue the enemy in forests, dessert lands, thorny places, and even swampy areas in the environment (Schein 2010, p. 74). Technology is another factor boosting US army operations when dealing with different enemies. The technology enables the officers to trap or follow the communication of enemies and even the terrorists. Trapping or following the communication will enable the officers to spot the enemies are located and what they are planning in the process of the attack. The officers will attack or guard o specific areas targeted by the officers as per their communications. Technology helps the officers to communicate during the operations. It will be difficult officers in US army to operate in various places without communication. Communication enables the officers to identify the positions of their fellow officers such that they cannot attack or injure one another during the operations. Communication can help the officers to save each other when attacked. The use of mobile phones and internet will enable the officers to call for assistance or direct fellow officers in the process of the operations. Discipline enables the officers working in the US army to succeed in their operations when dealing with the enemies. It is because officers will accept and follow the instructions and duties issued by the executive officers without any complaint. Discipline will enable the officers to be confidential and faithful to the organization. Indiscipline officers can betray fellow officers or even the entire organization by issuing confidential information to the enemies. The enemies will use the information to track the officers, and they can attack the entire organization. In every organization, the behavior of the staff or employees is determined by the values. US army has its values, which should be observed by the officers working in the organization. One of the values is loyalty. The officers should bear allegiance and true faith to the constitution, other soldiers, their unit, and the army. Loyalty officers will stand for fellow officers in any situation and supports the leadership of the organization. The officers show their loyalty to the unit by accomplishing or doing their share as assigned by the executives. The officers will express their loyalty by wearing the uniform in the US army (Adamsky 2010, p. 98). Duty is also a value in the US army. The officers should fulfill their obligations or accomplish their duties. Duty is not only carrying out the assigned tasks but also being in a position to participate in teamwork to accomplish various tasks in the organization. The duties of the soldiers working in the US army are complex because it is a combination of responsibilities, tasks, and missions continuously. The officers build one assignment into another. The soldiers and other officers working in the US army should respect each other as well as other people outside the organization. The officers treat people in a manner that they expect other people to treat them. The officers working in the US army should observe integrity. It is doing anything that is moral, legal, and right when serving the people. Integrity is developed y adhering to the moral principles in the organization. Integrity requires that one should say and do what will not deceive others. As the integrity of the individual grows, the trust portrayed by other people on the individual increases. Selfless service is another value in the US army. Any officer working in the US army should put the welfare of the army, his/her subordinates, and the nation before his/her welfare. When serving the nation, one will be doing his/her duty loyally without thinking of gain or recognition. The principle of selfless service is a commitment portrayed by each of the members working as a team in the organization. Any staff working in US army should have personal courage. The officer should be ready to face fear, danger or even adversity. Personal courage is associated with US army. It is a matter of risking personal safety at times and enduring physical duress. An individual can build his/her personal courage by acting upon and standing up for things that he/she knows they are honorable. Assumption is anything that is any feeling, thought, perceptions and beliefs taken for granted. The assumptions are the sources of values and actions taken by the organization. Assumptions and beliefs grow out of the norms and values in the organization. The assumptions and beliefs exist in an organization until they are dropped out of awareness. In the US army assumptions are used to predict or anticipate any attack or raid that will happen in the future. Since the officers working in the military accept that the assumptions will happen in the future without proof, they will get ready or prepared for the assumptions early (Schein 2010, p. 193). For instance, if the assumption is reported that there will be an attack in a certain city in a year or some months, US army will improve the security in the town. It will be a preparation to respond to any attack. Assumptions are very important in an organization because it enables the officers to remain alert and ready for any attack that might occur in the country. If the attack or raid occurs, the officers will respond and contain it on time. If the attack does not occur, it will have assisted the officers to remain and ready to respond to any occurrence within their territory. Many organizations have subcultures under the main culture instead of having a single overarching culture. The subcultures in the organization will a sense of identification and specific characteristics. Employees in an organization can classify themselves and others into different groups or social categories as per the identification within the main group. The classification can be based on the professional or occupational skills, age cohort, and union membership (Reichard & Johnson 2011, p. 34). Subcultures created from the subgroups consist of specific networks but will remain in association with values and ideologies of the organization leadership. US army has subcultures like those that Army hospital, and Ranger Company are working independently as per their mandates but continue to observe the values and ideologies of US army as the main organization. Subcultures are very important because it enables various departments to operate in adherence to the values and ideologies of the main organization. References Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational culture and leadership (Vol. 2). John Wiley & Sons. Reichard, R. J., & Johnson, S. K. (2011). Leader self-development as organizational strategy. The Leadership Quarterly, 22(1), 33-42. Adamsky, D. (2010). The Culture of Military Innovation: The Impact of Cultural Factors on the Revolution in Military Affairs in Russia, the US, and Israel. Stanford University Press. Read More