Communication is the fundamental tool that makes organizations work. The Latin origin of the word is “communis”, which means “common”. This means that there must be a common understanding of the verbal and non-verbal signs used among the participants in communication. We might say that individuals who share this common understanding of the symbols they use to interact with each other belong to the same culture. The general definition of culture states that it is a system of shared values, norms and beliefs that are shaped by history, climate, the type of work people do, etc., which is used to shape interpretations of events, actions and situations, and it is perceived as something that is taken for granted. In essence we could say that each of us belongs to multiple cultures, some broader, such as the country we come from, our native language, etc. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There are also smaller cultures to which we belong, the organization in which we work for the instant. Organizations are entities made up of a number of people who have a common understanding, a sort of “insider knowledge,” about how things are done within the work environment. It is not written anywhere and is invisible to the outside world, it is more about how employees perceive the organization. Distinguishing organizational members from non-members plays an important role when it comes to influencing employee behavior by setting standards and building loyalty by providing a sense of identity. It also helps in increasing their commitment towards the organization's goals. There are different ways in which culture is transmitted within organizations, for example legends that are built between the founder and the history of the organization, different rituals that create a stronger bond between members, a specific jargon used in this same working environment or symbols whose encoding and decoding is based on the common background provided by the organization. It is in fact quite difficult to be able to recognize these different habits in organizations from the outside, since the definition of organizational culture is already being strengthened. However, we tried to find examples of symbolic interactions in organizations, and we chose real and famous companies such as Google and Starbucks or Intel, as well as an example from an American series, "The Office", as films sometimes allow us a vision from the inside, if we follow the events alongside a character actually involved in the fictitious organization. To begin with, we will talk about Google and more precisely about the ping pong tables present in their facilities, which are used here as an example of a different approach to the meaning of work. The company is known for being one of the best places to work in the world, as Elisabeth Matsangou points out in her article on Laszlo Bock (Matsangou, 2016). Bock served as Senior Vice President of Human Organizations for Google from 2006 to 2016 and focused on improving the internal structure and culture of this growing company. In 2016 he published his book “Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead” in which he provides great insights into the internal life of Google and in which he provides his philosophy on how to develop new guidelines, structures and rules of a successful company (LinkedIn, 2018 ). For this evaluation we decided to analyze the free benefits that Google offers to all employees. More precisely, we will talk about ping-pong tables as symbols of a modern company that has understood how important adiversified environment for its employees and how it can improve internal communication and the success of the different departments. So a normal ping-pong table is an object that we would not normally imagine in a workplacebecause it is more known for being a leisure object. If we have free time, we play a game with another person who wants to participate. Why did Google decide to include "leisure objects" such as ping-pong tables in its offices? In an interview, Google's head of marketing, Fab Dolan, explains: "We actually take some time and go play arcade games for a while and hang out and [...] in those moments you get an idea when you meet someone from a different department or a different team” (Culture Inside Google [Video], 2013, 00:01:01) According to Dolan it doesn't just mean taking a break from work, but it's also a way to find new and fresh inspiration. ideas to solve a problem.So a ping-pong table offers the feeling of having real free time during work and the possibility to connect with other colleagues It helps to improve internal communication in a simple way and people have intention to stay in the office longer and work more. Google also provides micro-kitchens scattered around campus, where every employee can get a free coffee and take a short break. Ross Brooks sees them as an alternative way to bring people together and […] create greater opportunities for innovation” (Brooks, 2018). Laszlo Bock pointed out that most conversations in these breakout zones are about products, users, and new ideas (Brooks, 2018). So symbols like the ping-pong table have the great advantage of improving the internal network and giving employees the feeling of working in a company that really cares about them. It ensures team building support and in this way also helps to share the company mission (one of the three important topics for Laszlo Bock) between different departments. There's always the risk that employees will misinterpret offers like this and start forgetting about real work, but as Google and Lazlo Bock have shown, it can work very well. Places like these are important for creating an atmosphere where employees are motivated and try to do their best. They may also feel like they are giving back what they have received from the organization. And this is how big companies like Google are so successful nowadays. Another well-known company, Starbucks, has changed part of its organizational culture in recent years to better convey its values ​​to both employees and customers, as we will see in our next example. Starbucks Coffee Company's organizational culture is one of the company's most distinctive characteristics and is influenced by high-ranking employees and business results. In the case of Starbucks Coffee, the company's organizational culture permeates all aspects of its operations. However, Starbucks is where the company's culture is easily evident. The way people work with each other and the way they interact with customers are the special characteristics of Starbucks. The warm and friendly atmosphere of these bars is part of the difference between the company and the competition. The organization's goal is to include employees in the system as quickly as possible without conflicts, which affects the high productivity of employees. Starbucks also has an anti-discrimination policy that shapes its system and prohibits any form of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, etc. This aspect of the company's organizational culture makes customers feel welcome in Starbucks stores. According to the website statement ofStarbuck “Embracing diversity not only improves our work culture, but it also drives our business success. It is the inclusion of these diverse experiences and perspectives that creates a culture of empowerment, which promotes innovation, economic growth and new ideas. ”* we could see that inclusion and diversity are really important to them. For many years the dress code at Starbucks was quite strict. Black pants and black t-shirt, no hats, no jewelry etc. In 2016 the organization decided to change the dress code and let its employees express themselves more than before, according to the idea of ​​"being themselves" at work. “Fedora hats are a do, but bucket hats are a no. Colors like charcoal, dark blue, brown and black are in, bright ones like red and yellow are out of fashion. Patterns are great, as long as they're small and subtle, and denim works as long as it's not light washed. ”** - this is the 30-page portion of the “Starbucks Lookbook” where employees can find full details about their dress code, including tattoos, piercings, nails and personal hygiene. So, starting June 2 0 1 6, Starbucks workers will have a wider choice of clothes they can wear. All these changes are intended to allow employees to express themselves with constant respect for the freedom of other people. So, for example, hair color could be extravagant and very different from what we can usually notice: "if hair color is your style, it is welcome". Same with hats. Until then, caps were banned, bar employees could not wear anything on their heads while working. In the Starbucks lookbook the company published special photos with examples indicating that head covering is allowed and should be avoided. The dress code is considered a symbol in the organization. Starbucks' new equipment is known to a company that, regardless of whether it is located in Warsaw or New York, has a clear sense of identity. The decision to adapt the clothes to modern styles promises a new chapter for the coffee network conglomerate. The new dress code makes employees feel more comfortable. They show who they are. The variety of dress code introduced by Starbucks has a positive impact on the company's image and employees. Often, when we wear our work clothes, we have the feeling that from that moment on we become an employee like everyone else for a few hours. The new dress code has a positive effect on employees who feel more comfortable and cheerful in their clothes. As mentioned above, fiction allows us to take a closer look inside organizations, as the public is basically a fly on the wall. Starbucks Dress Code Lookbook, page 13 Starbucks Dress Code Lookbook, page 22Now we will look at the American mockumentary entitled “The Office”, which aired between 2005 and 2013. “The Dundies are the best of all of us” The The chosen symbol is an award given to employees during “The Dundies Awards” ceremony (“Dundies” in reference to the name of the Dunder Mifflin company) held every year. Since the show is comedy-oriented, the awards titles are quite silly, which is why they are symbolic to the company's employees. The entire team gathers in a restaurant, where the infamous boss Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, creates the animation and gives away the prizes. The sole purpose of this ceremony is to have fun and make jokes among colleagues. It brings people together, as work is forgotten for a night and immortalized with glittering rewards. The prizes themselves have no valuereal. They are a symbol of the company's dynamics and culture, which tends to be relaxed and fun. The boss has a pretty unique personality and is always bringing up ideas – good or really bad – throughout the show. His management techniques may be more than questionable, but they always unite employees around a culture of their own. The “Dundies” are one of the many symbols that represent the essence of the company, its identity and above all its culture. ! From “The Office,” Season 2 Episode 1 “The Dundies” When it comes to material organizational symbols, authors Dandridge, Mitroff and Joyce define three categories, one of which is “energetic control which considers the extent to which a symbol inspires or demotivates individuals. ” (C. Bailey - page 9). In the Dundies case, those small trophies are intended to motivate people within the company, so that they and their work are recognized and rewarded. Despite the ceremony, the boss made a fool of himself to make his employees laugh, those worthless figurines are a symbol of recognition and appreciation of the employees. In the show, the boss's desire to start a family leads him to actually build a family with the people he sees every day, the people he works with. The advantage of this symbol is that it speaks for itself, that is, the message conveyed by the award is clear and quickly understandable: good work. In the show it also represents the fact that the employees are part of a family, the family of the company. Finally we will take a look at another great company in their field, Intel Corporation. Founded in 1968, it is now the largest semiconductor chip manufacturer in the world, and has a strong position in education, environmental sustainability, healthcare and much more. The company is a good example in case of symbolic meanings, just take a look at their logo. (1) The Intel "drop-e" logo has been dropped in favor of a "swoosh" around the company name with the new "Leap Ahead" slogan. This simple yet powerful message symbolizes the company's goal to “drive the next step forward – in technology, education, social responsibility and manufacturing. The blue color in the Intel logo represents the company's accessibility, excellence and grace, while the white color represents its elegance, nobility and purity. In terms of organizational culture, Intel is also a great example. (2)In the article published by Mark Chatham, who worked at Intel for more than 20 years as a BIOS engineer, he described Intel's organizational culture and compared it with other companies. One of the key policies is the “Open Door Policy” which gives every employee the right to ask questions of any other employee, which can be very egalitarian. Part of this is meeting regularly with your boss and less frequently with your boss's boss. You own these meetings so you can determine how to best work for the company. These meetings give the feeling of being understood and since the company is very goal-oriented, employees can work at their best, underestimating the result they should achieve. I have spent a lot of time reading reviews and insights articles about the company posted by employees and I can say that it is truly a dream company to work for. (3) The next example is a ritual for new Intel employees, who should undergo communication training. A case study in that training was that a manager had to tell his employee that her body odor was affecting her performance. And they're practicing how to deliver it. It refers once again to the values ​​of the company and the "Open Door Policy" which is sought to be achieved not only between the company and.