Chapter 7 - “We Honor God in all We Do”
Lindsey B. Anderson and Melanie Morgan
Synopsis
Chase Homes is an organization with a strong culture based on traditional Christian values. Its operating principle is “honor God in all we do.” Employees are expected to live this message and as such, they must pass a “culture match” interview before being hired. In addition, they are encouraged to pray before meetings, attend weekly bible studies, and visit the Director of Spiritual Encouragement employed by Chase Homes. This culture seems to foster an environment of competitiveness where employees try to prove their Christianity. Through this narrative, an employee begins to wonder whether her organization’s values and business practices conflict. This mismatch between organizational values and policies becomes problematic for organizational members, one of whom eventually begins to doubt her religiosity.
Keywords: Religion, Spirituality, Culture, Socialization, Organization Communication
Key Takeaways and Take a Stand Form
Key Takeaways
- Organizational culture and practices can conflict. The authors described the inconsistencies that existed between Chase Homes’ espoused values and its business practices (e.g., building low quality homes and engaging in predatory sales and lending techniques).
- Religion is an important part of organizing. In this case, it is the foundation of the dominant organizational culture.
- Sub-cultures emerged that countered the dominant Christian culture at Chase Homes. These groups developed around the frustration associated with mismatched values and practices.
- The socialization process of employees was detailed through the authors’ accounts of employment interviews, corporate events, and interactions with co-workers.
- The conflicting values and practices raise questions about business ethics, especially when coupled with an overarching Christian organizational culture.
Take a Stand Form
- Take a Stand Form (DOC 17KB)