Organisational culture in IT projects: A case study analysis

The aim of this research in progress paper is to explore the organisational culture in the context of information technology (IT) projects. Two case study projects are presented and analysed via the Johnson and Scholes (1999) Cultural Web. Data collection was undertaken using the qualitative methods of reflective observation and informal discussion with project team members which was made possible as one of the researchers had worked on both projects. The results show that both projects were quite dissimilar in all but the Rituals component of the Cultural Web. This research has also developed and pilot tested a questionnaire in relation to organisational culture in the context of IT projects, however this is not the focus of this paper. © 2007 Maggie Beshay and Alan Sixsmith

DEFINING ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION

This paper deals with the topic of organisational communication. It discusses the various types and theoretical aspects of communication. If one raises the question “How important is it to have good communication in an organisation?” Nearly everyone will give an answer that it is vital for both the organisation and its employees. However, when it comes to the question of what can be done to improve communication in organisations, there appears to be a somewhat slight conformity. A basic unavoidable feature of complex organisations is that the people in them do not work in isolation. Therefore, group identification and role relationships, information transmission, and the process by which information required meaning, must be better understood. Another important point is the fact that organisations are goal-oriented, a phenomenon which directly influences the content and patterns of communication within them (Porter & Roberts, 1977)

DEFINING ORGANISATIONAL COMMUNICATION

This paper deals with the topic of organisational communication. It discusses the various types and theoretical aspects of communication. If one raises the question “How important is it to have good communication in an organisation?” Nearly everyone will give an answer that it is vital for both the organisation and its employees. However, when it comes to the question of what can be done to improve communication in organisations, there appears to be a somewhat slight conformity. A basic unavoidable feature of complex organisations is that the people in them do not work in isolation. Therefore, group identification and role relationships, information transmission, and the process by which information required meaning, must be better understood. Another important point is the fact that organisations are goal-oriented, a phenomenon which directly influences the content and patterns of communication within them (Porter & Roberts, 1977)

The influence of organizational culture and project management maturity in virtual project teams

Abstract: The growth of organisations and businesses have resulted in the organisations having offices in different geographical areas. The partnerships of different organisations have caused them to create a team that is not situated in one area. A virtual project team is one where the project team is located in different geographical areas and rely on technology for communication. Different factors can affect the performance of the virtual team. The aim of this article was to find the level of influence that the organisational culture and the project management maturity of an organisation has on virtual project team. The quantitative research methodology was used in the research. An online survey was used as the data collection tool. The google forms application and the Microsoft excel software were used for the data analysis of the feedback from the participants taking part in the research. The results of the research indicate that organisational culture has an influence in the virtual project performance and that the elimination of project management maturity affects the success of the virtual project negatively

Business organisation through effective communication

The aim of this study is to show how effective communication supports the organization and has a positive impact on the outcome of any business. Study shows that the technology of organization develops employees communication and interpersonal skills. There is no success in the business without investing in communication development. In order to enhance their business, firms must learn effective communication in order to communicate effectively with them. There are different types of communication activity, starting from manager to staff etc. Research shows that the main obstacle in the organization is misusing communication skills in the proper way. In order to escape the problems in the organization leaders should be able to find a proper way to communicate effectively inside an organization. Today, there is a new wave of globalization and different types of virtual communication become very popular making institutional communication very fast and effective. Having in mind all this technological development in the organization, there is no technological tool that can replace communication itself

Adaptivenes in Virtual Teams

Computer supported teams are capturing the attention of academics and practitioners as organisations increasingly put them into practice as virtual teams. The practical relevance of current research into computer supported teams could be increased if greater attention is paid to organisational challenges as they form the context within which virtual teamwork takes place. A model of organisational challenges mapped against processes of adaptation is developed to highlight principle factors affecting virtual teams. A sample of current research groups studying computer-supported teams is plotted onto this map to reveal the extent to which current research addresses these contextual factors. From this map insights are distilled with respect to what is known and is not known about virtual teams. This paper concludes with specific research needs in the study of virtual teams

Technological Change and Innovation in Consumer Magazine Publishing: a UK-Based Study

This paper presents the results of research undertaken between 2002 and 2004 into the impact of technological change on the UK consumer magazine industry. The findings highlight patterns of innovation, both in the range of products (most notably monthly magazine titles) and the structure of organisations and work practices, which have tended to elude much of the contemporary debate within the “cultural industries” approach adopted in the media studies discipline. Instead, our analysis makes use of insights from the innovation literature to highlight the impact of technological discontinuities on the capabilities of both incumbent firms and new entrants. It also highlights the important and growing role that is being played in innovation-led industries through the adoption of organisational practices that find their origins in the traditions of project-based firms

Dimensions of culture: A project perspective

This research in progress explores organizational culture from a project context. The paper takes the form of a case study with two projects, one from an oil company and the other from a bank, presented and analysed using Hofstede's [10] Six Dimensions of Organizational Culture. Data collection was Qualitative using the methods of reflective observation and informal discussion with project team members. The results show that for the bank project the culture of the project and the organization were along similar paths whereas for the oil company project the culture of the project and the organization were dissimilar in a number of dimensions. This research has also developed and pilot tested a questionnaire in relation to organisational culture in the context of projects, however this is not the focus of this paper