Improving organizational productivity through culture of creativity: Case study Hurry Oy: Development work

Abstract

This thesis was set out in order to study organizational culture and its features, types and effects on organizational productivity. The subject was furthermore refined to research a creative culture and a cooperative organization, namely an advertising agency. The main purpose of the research was to find out how the cooperative organization’s productivity could be improved through aspects of creativity through its organizational culture. Questions approached through theories were how an organizational culture can affect an organization’s productivity and how can a creative organizational culture be improved. The main research questions addressed were what features of a creative organizational culture the cooperative organization acquires and what measures of improvement could be taken to improve their creative productivity. The methodologies used in this thesis were data collection via survey and observation in addition to theoretical approach.

Answers to some of the researched questions were found through literature review and the collected information showed, that an organizational culture has either a positive or a negative effect on the level of employee turnover, productivity, creativity, innovation, sick leaves, executing strategy and ability to achieve business goals, understanding the deeper goals and strategies of the organization and sharing of know-how, as well as the general atmosphere and wellbeing in an organization. A creative organizational culture can be improved through measuring, assessing, implementing and learning, and eventually repeating creative cultural features found effective and to be emphasized.

The organization-specific results were established through survey and observation and it was found out that the cooperative organization’s culture has a steady foundation and ability towards a creative organizational culture. It is also very customer-oriented and includes many dimensional aspects typical of a market culture – a culture in a field of business of high competition and need for uniqueness. As the final result of the thesis, an illustrated development model of an organizational culture for the case study organization was established. The cultural aspects of improvement for the organization were divided into levels of organizational culture using a framework of creative aspects for an organization’s culture. An organization’s culture is one of the most valuable things for organizational productivity, which is why it needs to be revised frequently through time and organizational changes, to be able to grow as a business.