The role of organizational culture in Greek businesses

Purpose – This paper seeks to contribute to an understanding of the organizational culture of the spin-off knowledge-based enterprises, which operate within the science and technology parks in Greece. In this context, a critical number of questionnaires have been distributed to the spin-offs to examine whether firms born within the parks have developed a functional organizational culture, one that provides a solid foundation for organizational effectiveness and business excellence. Design/methodology/approach – The Organizational Culture Assessment Questionnaire (OCAQ) was developed by Sashkin to help people identify and understand the nature of the culture in their own organization, as a first step in identifying problems and defining the sort of culture they want (and the sort of culture that will help deal with organizational problems). The data for the present study were obtained by the OCAQ mailed to a sample of 33 spin-off companies that operate within the aforementioned science and technological parks. The mailing consisted of the questionnaire itself, a cover letter, and a stamped pre-addressed return envelope. Of the 90 questionnaires mailed after phone contact, 33 were received, representing a 37 percent response rate. Findings – There seems to have been ascertained serious organizational culture weaknesses regarding management of change practices, goal and customer orientation, cultural strength and efficient team working. It is of critical importance for policy makers to set general principles, guidelines as well as organizational reform measures and priorities to achieve better efficiency and effectiveness of spin-offs in Greece and approach business excellence. Finally, implications for theory, managers and future research are presented.