Basic Assumptions of Organizational Culture In Religiously Diverse Environments

Background. The framework of this study is guided by “organizational culture”, which directs the way people behave in an organization. Culture, together with religion is considered to be an influential source of basic cultural assumptions, cultural values and artifacts reflected in organizational culture. Research aims. This paper explores the relationship between culture, religion and the culture of an organization at the level of basic assumptions. The research hypothesis is that religion, which is considered a factor of culture and is operationalized by cultural dimensions such as: individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity/femininity affects the level of basic assumptions of organizational culture. The main objective of the paper is to build the model of organizational culture on the level of basic assumptions and test this model by two-fold verification in companies operating in different religious environments. Methodology. The scope of the research is the organizational culture of two companies performing in Podlasie region. The method used in the research is comparative case study built on quantitative research techniques. Those techniques embrace two kinds of questionnaires addressed to the employees of both studied organizations. Key findings. The study shows that cultural dimensions could be used to explore religion’s influence (Catholic and Orthodox) on an organizational culture.