Organisational character: the key to transforming organisations of the future

Abstract

Organisational character can be thought of as a relatively enduring demonstration of a set of universal principles created by the committed actions of founders and critical mass of managers and shaped by members of an organisation. The organisational character manifests itself through the defining moments that occur through the life of an organisation. Through a case study, an attempt is made to understand how organisational character gets built and sustained over a period of time. Ascribing the action to an organisation glosses over the fact that behind every organisational action are the acts of specific people. It is this entity - individual and collective - which is responsible for shaping ethical decision-making processes in organisations.