Anirudh

Aparna
Harsh
WHAT DOES THIS SYMBOL MEAN TO
YOU?


How do you interpret
symbols?
Brain references words as:
Pictionary
What are symbolic thoughts?
Symbols are powerful
indicators of
organizational life
Physical qualities also
have symbolic power
Organizational symbols
impact both individual
and organizational level
outcomes
Tangible & sensory
aspects make up
aesthetic experience
History of Symbolic Thoughts :
Language
Language:
composed of
arbitrary symbols

Earliest
civilizations used
pictographic

Depicted here are
Hieroglyphics & the
Minoan Script


Image source : www.
annagrammer.com
Evolution of Symbolic Thought
Cave paintings
dating back to 75,000
B.C.
Depict the way of life
in nomadic tribes
Pictorial
representation of
hunting scenes, type
of weapons used and
the main animals
hunted.

Image source : www.
annagrammer.com



We come across
symbols in everyday
life
Emoticons
Politics
Symbols such as logos may seem
arbitrary, they are not. Discussions
of the new name, the new logo,
and other organizational symbols
provided a way for organizational
members to understand the
identities and values that come
along with a major organizational
change.
Car Brands
Emblems/Mascots


Symbolic thoughts in
business
As a reflection of organizational
culture
Through sensing of symbols we
come to feel as if we know the
organization
Symbols spark feelings
(Takahashi, 1995) and work to
make feelings outwardly
discussible and objectively real
By the Processes of aesthetic
interpretation and sense making,
the emotional experience
sparked by symbols leads to a
cognitive understanding of the
organization
Symbols comprises the
observable artifacts that make up
the sensory experience of the
organization
Organization
culture
Sealing lucrative business deals
Aesthetics in organization
As a means of attracting
customers
Conclusion
Symbol, is a
powerful indicator
of organizational
life
Symbol reflects
organizational
culture
Symbol are a trigger
of internalized
values and norms
Symbol are frames
for conversations
about experience
Symbol are
integrator of
organizational
systems of meaning
Symbol as reflection of organizational
culture
Symbols make up sensory experience of the
organization

Reflect underlying values or realities


Are a way to understand the organizations they
represent

Helps bridge the gap between feeling and thought
Reflector
Google doodles reflects their bond with
different cultures
Mcdonalds frisk service reflects quality of their
Customer friendliness
Symbol as a trigger of internalized values
and norms


Symbols presumably guide toward appropriate
behaviour

Elicit internalized values and norms that guide
appropriate action

Links feeling, interpretation and action in
organizations

Trigger
The uniform of a policeman triggers
appropriate behaviour from others
The faade of a restaurant evokes
emotions about the type of food
served there

Symbol as a frame for conversations
about experience


Help people communicate and share their
frames of thought
Symbols make organizational frameworks
outwardly visible
A vehicle for conversation and communication
among organizational members
Offers a language for organizational discussion
Frame
Logos externally represent the organisation
and serves as its identity
Promotes internal conversation
in the organization

Symbol as an integrator of organizational
systems of meaning



Integrates multiple, competing and conflicting
systems of meaning
Integrate experiences into coherent systems of
meaning
Brings closer to an understanding of behaviour
within organizations
Help build a successful and well-integrated
organization
Integrator
References

www.npr.org
www.technion.il
www.mcdonalds.com
www.futurebazaar.com