Integration or separation: women and the appliance of organisational culture

Four decades ago, Whyte (1956) described how a new human expression had become universally evident. This was the notion of the “Organisation Man”, an early corporate culture characterised by the middle ranks of ‐ male ‐ managers in large organisations, who were subject to a “social ethic”. Gender was not an issue. However, in a contemporary view of corporate culture, it has become crucial to understanding both notions of competitive advantage, and the thesis and influence of individual commitment to the organisation.This article deals with the issue of gender and the corporate culture thesis. Unlike many studies there is a need to make a distinction between women and men concerning their organisational perceptions and roles in relation to the corporate culture thesis. The paper is an initial analysis of research material, dealing with the above issues in relation to gender in contemporary organisations. It examines a changing notion of corporate culture to one where both men and women are implicated in the project at a full emotional level.