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Watercooler chat, organizational structure and corporate culture

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  • Newton, Jonathan
  • Wait, Andrew
  • Angus, Simon D.

Abstract

Modeling firms as networks of employees, occasional collaborative decision making around the office watercooler changes long run employee behavior (corporate culture). The culture that emerges in a given team of employees depends on team size and on how the team is connected to the wider firm. The implications of the model for organizational design are explored and related to empirical research on communication, innovation, the size and decision making of corporate boards and trends in the design of hierarchical structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Newton, Jonathan & Wait, Andrew & Angus, Simon D., 2016. "Watercooler chat, organizational structure and corporate culture," Working Papers 2016-03, University of Sydney, School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:syd:wpaper:2016-03
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    4. Chen, Shangrong & Bravo-Melgarejo, Sai & Mongeau, Romain & Malavolti, Estelle, 2023. "Adopting and diffusing hydrogen technology in air transport: An evolutionary game theory approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Yasar, Alperen, 2023. "Power struggles and gender discrimination in the workplace," SocArXiv t4g83, Center for Open Science.
    6. Dietrichson, Jens & Gudmundsson, Jens & Jochem, Torsten, 2022. "Why don’t we talk about it? Communication and coordination in teams," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 257-278.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Shared intentions; hierarchies; teams; delayering; networks; corporate boards;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C71 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Cooperative Games
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights

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