Handy's Four Classifications of Organisational Culture

Power Culture:

• Control radiates from the centre

• Concentrates power among a few

• Few rules and little bureaucracy

• Swift decisions

Role Culture:

• People have clearly delegated authorities within a highly defined structure

• Hierarchical bureaucracy

• Power derives from a person’s position

• Little scope exists for expert power

Task Culture:

• Teams are formed to solve particular problems

• Power derives from expertise as long as a team requires expertise

• No single power source

• Matrix organisation

• Team may develop own objectives (a risk)

Person Culture:

• People believe themselves to be superior to the business

• Business full of people with similar training, background and expertise

• Common in firms of professionals- e.g. accountants and lawyers

• Power lies in each group of individuals

Culture types and Leadership style:

• Power:

  • Autocratic

• Role:

  • Autocratic or Paternalistic

• Task:

  • Paternalistic/ Democratic

• Person:

  • Democratic