Charles Handy Model

Zeus Apollo Athena Dionysus Charles Handy Model

Introduction • Jennifer Smith has joined Oswald Software Inc. as a Senior Software Tester. • She has about three years of experience working as a Software Tester in her previous organization, Leonard Inc.

Introduction • On the first day of her work at Oswald Software, Jennifer realized that this organization is very different from her previous organization. • Her feeling proved to be right in a period of over a month as she continued to work at Oswald.

Introduction • The people at Oswald followed very orthodox methods for working. • There were very strict protocols for completing every task. • The decision making power was vested in only a select few and the others had to just follow orders.

Introduction • Jennifer found that only the people at the top of the hierarchical order had the power to make decisions and only they were authorized to take decisions. • These powerful people also enjoyed special privileges at the workplace. • They were the most important people at the workplace and were also the major decision makers.

Introduction • These individuals further delegated responsibilities to the other employees. • Jennifer felt that at Oswald she was caught up in a culture, where she as well as all the other subordinates had no option but to strictly follow their superior’s instructions.

Introduction • Jennifer realized that Oswald’s culture did not give her the liberty to express her views or share her ideas on an open forum and she just had to follow what her superior says. • She also noticed that most of the managers in such a type of culture were sometimes partial to someone and hence this lead to major unrest among others.

Introduction • Jennifer was finding it increasingly difficult to adjust to Oswald’s culture. • At Leonard, her previous organization, the culture was much more open and friendly. • Leonard’s culture was such that every employee was delegated roles and responsibilities according to his specialization, educational qualification and interest to extract the best out of him.

Introduction • The employees had the liberty to decide what they can do best and willingly accept the challenge. • Every individual was accountable for something or the other and had to take ownership of the work assigned to him. • In Leonard’s work culture, power came with responsibility.

Introduction • Jennifer tried her best to adjust to Oswald’s culture but she just could not adjust in a culture where she had to just follow orders. • She was used to a more open culture where she could freely express her ideas and opinions to her superiors.

Introduction • Finally, Jennifer gave up after trying for a year. • She decided that Oswald’s culture was just not something she could ever get used to and decided to quit her job at Oswald. • For her next interview, she made sure that she found out about the organization’s culture from its current employees, the HR and the company website.

Introduction • Hence, you can see that every organization has a unique culture making it different from the other and giving it a sense of direction. • It is crucial for the employees to understand the culture of their workplace to adjust well.

Introduction • The Charles Handy Model is one such model which helps you to understand the various kinds of organization cultures followed in organizations. • Let us learn about ‘Charles Handy Model’ in detail.

What is Organization Culture? • Every organization has certain values and follows some policies and guidelines which differentiate it from others. • The principles and beliefs of any organization form its culture. • The organization culture decides the way employees interact amongst themselves as well as external parties.

Baseball Team Culture • In a ‘Baseball Team Culture’, the employees are considered as the most treasured possession of the organization. • The employees are the true assets of the organization who have a major role in its successful functioning. • In such a culture, the individuals always have an upper edge and they do not bother much about their organization. • Advertising agencies, event management companies, financial institutions follow such a culture. Baseball Team Culture

What is the Charles Handy Model? • Charles Handy was born in 1932 in Ireland and is a well-known philosopher who has specialized in organization culture. • Several models have been proposed till date explaining the organization culture, one of them being the Charles Handy model.

In such a culture, the subordinates have no option but to strictly follow their superior’s instructions. The employees do not have the liberty to express their views or share their ideas on an open forum and have to follow what their superior says. The managers in such a type of culture can sometimes be partial to someone and hence lead to major unrest among others. Power Culture • Power Culture: • There are some organizations where the power remains in the hands of only a few people and only they are authorized to take decisions. • They are the ones who enjoy special privileges at the workplace. • They are the most important people at the workplace and are the major decision makers. • These individuals further delegate responsibilities to the other employees. • Power Culture

The Fours Gods of Management Four Gods of Management, their associated culture and picture is as follows: Greek God: Zeus Culture: Club Culture Picture: Spider Web Greek God: Apollo Culture: Role Culture Picture: Greek Temple

Zeus: Club Culture • The decision making and power rests with the boss and he prefers talking to people and getting the work done than writing things down in a formal documentation form. • Zeus is the leader of the club culture. • He symbolizes a powerful, charismatic and strong leader. • Such cultures are based on the trust that the individuals share with the leader or Zeus.

Picture associated with Zeus: Club Culture • A ‘Spider Web’ is the picture associated with the Zeus or Club Culture. • Just like in a spider web, the lines radiating or diversifying from a center shows the division of work based on functions or products. • The lines in the centre that encircle and surround the spider in the middle are considered the most important.

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Charles Handy Model