SYMBOLS
“Symbols are signs that connote meanings greater than themselves
and express much more than their intrinsic content. They are invested
with specific subjective meanings. Symbols embody and represent
wider patterns of meaning and cause people to associate conscious or
unconscious ideas that in turn endow them with their deeper, fuller,
and often emotion-invoking meaning. A sign may be anything: a word
or phrase, policy, flag, building, office, seating arrangement, picture of
a chief executive officer, or computer terminal. Any sign can be the
raw material for symbol creation when a group of people subjectively
invest it with broader meaning and significances.”
Ott, J. S. (1989) The Organizational Culture Perspective, Brooks/Cole:
Pacific Grove, California
List/Describe/Explain/Clarify “signs-turned-symbols” from the
organization of your choice. 3-5 pps – cite at least 2 definitions in
your introduction – Good luck!