ASSESSING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY CHARACTERISTICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE - HOW DIFFERENCE CAN YOU BE

This study investigated the relationship between two industry characte ristics, technology and growth, and organizational culture. We examine d this relationship by comparing the cultures of organizations within and across industries. Using 15 firms representing four industries in the service sector, we found that stable organizational culture dimens ions existed and varied more across industries than within them. Speci fic cultural values were associated with levels of industry technology and growth. One implication of this finding is that the use of organi zational culture as a competitive advantage may be more constrained th an researchers and practitioners have suggested.