Workplaces: The impact of workplace culture on individuals and organisations
This accessible romp through diverse workplaces reveals how their cultures have just as much, if not more, impact on the organisation than any strategic intent or managerial intervention. It is an entertaining and informative book aimed at professionals, academics and general readers.
Workplaces recounts episodes from the author's varied working life, including an Embassy, an international investment bank and an African non-governmental organisation, highlighting important points about the realities of work and the effect workplace culture has on strategy, leadership, individuals and outcomes.
The book is intended to provoke reflection and consideration about the realities of working life, such as the meaning, purpose, status, identity and camaraderie work provides, the knowledge and concerns we take into and out of our workplaces, and whether we change into one of ‘them’ (those who already work there) or retain our alterity. In discussing these points she touches on issues such as socio-political and cultural contexts, professionalism and unprofessionalism, structural inequalities, proximity to power, sexual politics, colonialism, and the impacts and trade-offs encountered between home and work life.