Charles Handy

Has had an interesting influence on organisational thinking, popularised a typology of cultures and organisations. His four cultures (adapted from Harrison's work) are very easy for people to understand and groups readily identify with them and begin to explore their culture through the models he uses: While useful and easy to understand and apply, particularly in training and development work, I prefer Schein's model.

Handy also uses four Greek gods to illustrate his basic approaches and the organizational cultures that result.

POWER CULTURE
It is like a web with a ruling spider. Those in the web are dependent on a central power source. Rays of power and influence spread out from a central figure or group. In a Zeus organization, power derives from the top person, and a personal relationship with that individual matters more than any formal title or position. e.g. small entrepreneurial companies and political groups.

ROLE CULTURE
Often referred to as a bureaucracy - controlled by procedures, role descriptions and authority definitions. Co-ordination is at the top. Job position is central - value predictability and consistency - may find it harder to adjust to change. An Apollo culture creates a highly structured, stable company--a bureaucracy - precise job descriptions, usually with a single product.
TASK CULTURE
It is very much a small team approach - the network organisation - small organisations co-operating together to deliver a project. The emphasis is on results and getting things done. Individuals empowered with discretion and control over their work. Is flexible and adaptable. The Athena culture emphasizes talent and youth, continuous team problem-solving e.g. consultancies
PERSON CULTURE
The individual is the central point. If there is a structure it exists only to serve the individuals within it. The culture only exists for the people concerned; it has no super-ordinate objective. Tend to have strong values about how they will work. They are very difficult for the organisation to manage.A Dionysus "existential" organization exists so that individuals can achieve their purposes: e.g. university, a medical practice other professional groupings

Each culture, stems from different assumptions about the basis of power and influence, what motivates people, how people think and learn, and how change should occur.

The Handy Guide to the Gurus of Management
An interview - Programme Two - Charles Handy BBC English/Charles Handy
Listen to him and download the script