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CHAPTER 7 • IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES: MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS ISSUES 249

Assurance of Learning Exercise 7C

Understanding My University’s Culture

Purpose
It is something of an art to uncover the basic values and beliefs that are buried deeply in an orga-
nization’s rich collection of stories, language, heroes, heroines, and rituals, yet culture can be the
most important factor in implementing strategies.
Instructions
Step 1 On a separate sheet of paper, list the following terms: hero/heroine, belief, metaphor, language,
value, symbol, story, legend, saga, folktale, myth, ceremony, rite, and ritual.
Step 2 For your college or university, give examples of each term. If necessary, speak with faculty,
staff, alumni, administration, or fellow students of the institution to identify examples of each
term.
Step 3 Report your findings to the class. Tell the class how you feel regarding cultural products being
consciously used to help implement strategies.