Organizational Cultures as Holding Environments: A Psychodynamic Look at Organizational Symbolism
William Van Buskirk, Dennis McGrath
Human Relations · 1999 · Volume 52 · Issue 6
DOI: 10.1177/001872679905200606
Abstract
The traditional formulation of symbols as "bundles of meaning" has supported many fine-grained analyses of organizational culture. However, it tends to obscure deeper psychodynamic elements that are essential to shaping how culture forms, develops, and dies. This paper adapts the idea of "holding environment" from Winnicott, Kegan, and others to sketch the potential contribution of such a psychodynamic perspective. An illustrative case is presented to support the argument.
Keywords
organizational culture, organizational symbolism, psychodynamics, holding environment
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