| An understanding of the European Union's (EU) organizational culture helps the reader to assess the ideologies, roles, functions, responsibilities, cooperation procedures, and environmental constituencies taken under consideration by its decision-making bodies (Commission, Council, Parliament). In order to discover the E.U.'s organizational culture this study employed a metaphorical analysis, having as primary data the Treaty establishing the European Community, as it was revised by the Treaty on the European Union. Gareth Morgan's organizational metaphors (i.e. machine, organism, brain, political and domination), as they were developed in his book Images of Organization, served as indicators and displayers of the E.U.'s culture.;The Union's decision-making bodies operate as if bound by a complex nervous system which is independent enough to respond individually to the unexpected, non-programmed decision-making problems that arise. The European Union's organizational culture can be seen as a supra-culture divided into cultures which continuously interact in order to achieve a balance with the environment. Each of these cultures expresses a different set of ideologies, interests, norms and coordination procedures. Due to the Union's co-decision procedure these cultures are interrelated and at times overlapping. Each of the Union's cultures is divided into various sub-cultures which function in terms of a formal organizational structure that reflects the power relationships that exist within the particular supra-culture.;The existing ideologies, norms, rules, and goals within each of the European Union's bodies truly facilitate a unifying process of stability which allows for individual differences despite the varied interests and goals being represented in those bodies. Thus, the European Union's organizational culture is dominated by a collaborative spirit. These bodies are also characterized by: internal transformation, interdependence to a certain degree, compromises, bargaining alliances, and efficiency. |
