Organizational culture and leadership

Organizational culture and leadership

A qualitative study assessing the impact of leaders on organizational culture

Doris Xhelili

Bachelor thesis, May 2016 School of Health Science and Social Work School of Health Science, J?nk?ping University

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to the management of SiS L?ngan?s ungdomshem, Eksj?, for giving the opportunity to carry out my study at the facility. More gratitude goes out to my supervisor Prof. Mary McCall for her guidance and advice throughout the entire process. To all the social workers who were willing to participate in interviews and observations providing me with the information needed to complete this study. This has been a learning experience that has had an impact in my personal life and will lead to new beginnings in future. Yours sincerely,

Doris Xhelili

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Abstract

There are a number of qualities expected of a leader, such as flexibility, tolerance, empathy, vision, or to be a team player. This qualitative study aims to an increased understanding of the effect of leadership on organizational culture. The data collected was based on interviews and participatory observations carried out at the youth state facility L?ngan?s in Eksj? that provides treatment to the youth with psychosocial problems such as criminality, drug dependence or self-destructive behavior. The findings confirmed were as follows: subcultures within the culture, different leadership styles; mistrust and divisions within the leadership, and a people-oriented type of leadership. While organizations and culture experience changes, there is an interrelation between the various concepts. The social worker is therefore placed in a position that entails having a bird's eye view over the organizational management. Acquiring a deeper understanding of organizational culture and leadership dynamics is compulsory for the social worker. This is in order to keep abreast with the fast changing 21st century.

Sammanfattning p? svenska

Det finns ett antal egenskaper som en ledare f?rv?ntas ha, s?som flexibilitet, tolerans, empati, vision och att vara en lagspelare. Den h?r kvalitativa studien syftar till en ?kad f?rst?else av effekten av ledarskap inom en organisationskultur. Insamlade data baseras p? intervjuer och deltagarobservationer som gjorts p? ungdomshemmet L?ngan?s i Eksj?, Statens Institutionsstyrelse, som erbjuder v?rd f?r unga med psykosociala problem s?som kriminalitet, drogberoende eller sj?lvskadebeteende.

Uppt?ckter som gjordes bekr?ftade f?ljande: subkulturer inom kulturen, olika ledarskapsstilar, misstro och uppdelningar inom ledarskapet och personorienterat ledarskap. Medan organisationer och kulturer genomg?r f?r?ndringar, finns det ett inb?rdes f?rh?llande mellan de olika koncepten. Socialarbetaren placeras d?rf?r i ett l?ge som inneb?r att man har ett ?vergripande perspektiv ?ver organisationsutvecklingen. Att f?rv?rva en djupare f?rst?else av organisationskultur och ledarskapsdynamik ?r n?dv?ndigt f?r socialarbetaren. Detta f?r att h?lla j?mna steg med det snabbt f?r?nderliga 2000-talet.

Keywords:

Organizational Culture, leadership, community service organizations, social work and leadership, leadership styles, dysfunctional leadership

Organisationskultur, ledarskap, socialt arbete och ledarskap, ledarskapsstil, dysfunktionellt ledarskap

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... ii Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... iii Sammanfattning p? svenska ...................................................................................................... iii 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 2. Purpose of the study............................................................................................................ 2 3. Background of the study ..................................................................................................... 2

3.1 L?ngan?s and the social services ................................................................................. 4 3.2 Vision and ethical values ............................................................................................. 5 3.3 Changes ....................................................................................................................... 5 3.4 Professional cooperation.............................................................................................. 6 4. What is organizational culture? .......................................................................................... 7 4.1 The theories and concepts of culture ........................................................................... 8 4.2 The three levels of culture ........................................................................................... 9 4.3 Leadership and organizational theories ....................................................................... 9 5. Previous research .............................................................................................................. 11 6. Method .............................................................................................................................. 13 6.1 Selecting research questions ...................................................................................... 13 6.2 Selection process and establishing contact ................................................................ 14 6.3 Data collection ........................................................................................................... 14 6.4 Audio recording and data transcription ..................................................................... 16 6.5 Thematic analysis ...................................................................................................... 16 6.6 Field notes from observations.................................................................................... 17 6.7 Ethical considerations ................................................................................................ 17 7. Results............................................................................................................................... 18 7.1 Changes ..................................................................................................................... 19

7.1.1 Rotation of unit managers .................................................................................. 19 7.1.2 Fixed work schedule.......................................................................................... 20 7.1.3 Youth treatment approach .................................................................................. 21 7.2 Communication ......................................................................................................... 22 7.3 Different leadership styles ......................................................................................... 23 7.4 Espoused values......................................................................................................... 23

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7.5 Observations .............................................................................................................. 23 7.6 Artifacts: the visible symbols .................................................................................... 24 7.7 Communication ......................................................................................................... 25 7.8 Language ................................................................................................................... 26 7.9 Changing work shifts ................................................................................................. 26 7.10 Rituals ........................................................................................................................ 27 7.11 Way forward for L?ngan?s ........................................................................................ 28 8. Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 28 8.1 The articles and the study results............................................................................... 29 8.2 Limitations of the study ............................................................................................. 31 9. Conclusions....................................................................................................................... 31 9.1 Recommendations for the future research ................................................................. 32 10. References ..................................................................................................................... 33 A. Appendices........................................................................................................................ 36 A.1 Appendix 1. Letter of information to participate....................................................... 36 A.2 Appendix 2. Interview guide .................................................................................... 37

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