Page "Industrial and organizational psychology" Paragraph 53

Organizational culture can be described as a set of assumptions shared by the individuals in an organization that directs interpretation and action by defining appropriate behavior for various situations.

There are three levels of organizational culture: artifacts, shared values, and basic beliefs and assumptions.

Artifacts comprise the physical components of the organization that relay cultural meaning.

Shared values are individuals ' preferences regarding certain aspects of the organization's culture ( e. g., loyalty, customer service ).

Basic beliefs and assumptions include individuals ' impressions about the trustworthiness and supportiveness of an organization, and are often deeply ingrained within the organization's culture.