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The Corporate Culture Survival Guide

The father of the corporate culture field and pioneer in organizational psychology on today's changing corporate culture

This is the definitive guide to corporate culture for practitioners. Recognized expert Edgar H. Schein explains what culture is and why it's important, how to evaluate your organization's culture, and how to improve it, using straightforward, practical tools based on decades of research and real-world case studies. This new edition reflects the massive changes in the business world over the past ten years, exploring the influence of globalization, new technology, and mergers on culture and organization change. New case examples help illustrate the principals at work and bring focus to emerging issues in international, nonprofit, and government organizations as well as business. Organized around the questions that change agents most often ask, this new edition of the classic book will help anyone from line managers to CEOs assess their culture and make it more effective.

Offers a new edition of a classic work with a focus on practitioners Includes new case examples and information on globalization, the effects of technology, and managerial competencies Covers the basics on changing culture and includes a wealth of practical advice

240 pages, Hardcover

Published August 17, 2009

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About the author

Edgar H. Schein

123 books209 followers
Edgar Henry Schein (March 5, 1928 – January 26, 2023) was a Swiss-born American business theorist and psychologist who was professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He was a foundational researcher in the discipline of organizational behavior, and made notable contributions in the field of organizational development in many areas, including career development, group process consultation, and organizational culture. He was the son of former University of Chicago professor Marcel Schein.--Wikipedia.org

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5 stars
91 (26%)
4 stars
142 (40%)
3 stars
87 (25%)
2 stars
21 (6%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Vas Giatilis.
11 reviews1 follower
October 13, 2022
A good comprehensive guide for corporate culture in its entirety. What I miss though is tools and techniques to detect and identify emerging weak culture characteristics as an external observer. At least at an approximate level.
Profile Image for Amy.
167 reviews
September 2, 2011
"If you want to change some element of your culture, you must recognize that you are tackling some of the most stable parts of your organization." p.35
Profile Image for Chet Brandon.
47 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2016
Edgar Schein is THE authority on culture. Unless you have carefully read and applied his books you are only guessing about what culture is an how it is influenced. The Corporate Culture Survival Guide distills all Dr. Schein has learned in decades of culture work and packages it for used by leaders looking to use culture as a tool of change. it does take some effort to fully comprehend his the deep meaning of his concepts in the book. Still, this is a must read for leaders.
74 reviews4 followers
May 13, 2020
This was a great overview of what culture is, how to understand it, and how to guide or change it over time. Leaders of organizations can gain a lot from this book in an effort to create the best outcomes for everyone involved.
Profile Image for Michael Belcher.
216 reviews6 followers
February 18, 2019
Concise discussion of organizational culture and change by the esteemed scholar of both - Edgar Schein.
Profile Image for Ryan Nelson.
232 reviews
October 19, 2022
Couldn’t finish the book. I read over half and really enjoyed the beginning. Then it turned from an analysis into a textbook
Profile Image for Roman Kurys.
Author 3 books31 followers
January 29, 2017
Taking a break from my usual reads and investing into my own professional development with this book. One needs a break from all the fantasy worlds at one point or another, right?

All in all, if you work in a corporation or attempting to start your own venture into the world of business this is a very solid foundation.

This book focuses on culture of an organization and its differences between young and established corporations. It speaks about what it is and how to be a catalyst of change without alienating your entire workforce so that your business can continue to thrive in always changing marketplace.

If you are not an entrepreneur or work for a corporation, safe to say: move along. Nothing to see here.

If you are: definitely a good, solid read.

Roman "Ragnar"
Profile Image for Gernot.
155 reviews6 followers
February 16, 2013
Ich durfe selber zwei Unternehmens M&A (Aufkaufen oder Aufkaufen) mitmachen. Leider hatte - so musste man jedenfalls annehmen - niemand vorher dieses Buch gelesen.

Was ich bestätigen kann: Einfach ist es nicht und man sollte tatsächlich alle Annahmen insbesondere - die in der anderen Firma denken genau so wie wir - in Frage stellen.

Also_ Gute Lektüre für Übernehmer und Übernommene.
Profile Image for James Cooper.
162 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2015
Thought the book gave some very practical advice and suggestions. This book is great when discussing companies and other profit-organizations. There are many good things to take out of this book for nonprofit organizations, however if you are looking to change your organization in a church or other nonprofit organization, maybe another book would be better.
Profile Image for John MacIntyre.
59 reviews29 followers
January 15, 2017
This isn't as much of a review, as a comment / advice to future readers who are considering this in audiobook format. I listened to the audiobook, but there was quite a bit to it and in retrospect, I think I should have gotten the ebook instead so I could take notes while reading. I'm going to need to re-listen to get the full value.
Profile Image for Vovka.
1,009 reviews52 followers
April 23, 2017
Schein is the world's top expert on corporate culture. Not just in terms of how he thinks about it, but in terms of his experience helping clients work through culture change and culture diagnosis. This is a short book containing practical advice on how to assess culture specifically for the purpose of fixing a problem or capturing an opportunity.
Profile Image for Rod Willis.
10 reviews9 followers
July 28, 2019
A fresh take on culture from someone that's been exploring it for several decades

The two authors helpfully establish the argument that in today's world. It's not just about the individual or the organisation. It's more about groups and how they work inwardly and with other groups. It's this interaction that the organisation's value is established.
309 reviews2 followers
October 22, 2023
It is a good book on understanding the complexities of organizational culture. Essential definitions provide concepts and examples of uncovering and understanding those complexities to bring about change.
Profile Image for Alvin.
14 reviews7 followers
March 8, 2013
My sense is that this book will be better read and understood by readers who have been in the OD business for a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Renee.
374 reviews
April 16, 2015
Good ideas on how to navigate the corporate waters
Profile Image for Captain063.
34 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2015
The book deciphers many doubts about organizations struggles throughout any transformative change. One of the valuable book ever in the field of leadership and management.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews