Business Culture: Generational Shift sees Value in Entrepreneurial Spirit

That doesn’t get you much of a sense of value.” Entrepreneurship is now a major force in the economy and a catalyst for change in business culture. “One of the reasons I’m such a big fan of entrepreneurs is that I think that’s bringing back the pride in the ownership and the direct connection of people in business and so I think it will help the business culture tremendously,” he says.

Challenging the Status Quo

Zwilling published an article entitled “10 Ways to Build a Business Culture like Apple” and says that the status quo should be challenged in the workplace. “I think it can certainly and should apply to people in a firm. The people have to take some ownership, responsibility and some pride in that company,” he says.

Weighing in on this topic, Priesemuth referred to her recent research findings. “It actually depends on the work culture and climate to determine whether and when employees are more likely to challenge the status quo in times of conflict. In other words, it depends on the values and underlying assumptions people in this workplace have. I found that if the company values and cherishes fairness and moral principles in the workplace, employees are much more likely to challenge the status quo and try to resolve conflict. So, this shows that certain work cultures are even more likely to resolve conflict than others,” she says.

Business culture cannot be defined as a fixed set of practices and policies, but rather a system in flux that reacts to both internal and external forces. The current culture is taking great strides forward to deal with workplace conflicts and awaken a new generation to possibilities in the corporate world that extend beyond the nine-to-five grind huddled in a cubicle.

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Jordan Smith is a 4^th year History major at Wilfrid Laurier University and in addition to writing for Arb also contributes to the campus newspaper The Cord.