Oracle's culture also relies on teams instead of larger and highly hierarchical organizational structures (Eden, 2006). These teams give employees an opportunity to personally identify with their team goals and have a higher level of accountability and performance as a result (Kumar, 2007). Of the seven primary characteristics of an organizational culture, Oracle has a strong outcome orientation, team orientation, aggressiveness, and innovation and risk-taking.
One of the most appealing aspects of the Oracle culture is the sense of urgency of getting goals accomplished both individually and as part of a team. There is an intensity that teams have to get to their goals together. The potential for job satisfaction is very high in that type of environment. Having the chance to define ones' own objectives in a job and also decide how to achieve them critical for job satisfaction. That's what is most appealing about the Oracle culture from a potential employee standpoint. Valuing and allowing investments in innovation and risk taking also contributes to a more achievement-oriented mindset by employees as well. Having the opportunity to be part of teams managed in this way, in a culture so committed to continually improving, is appealing.
The Oracle organizational culture is strong. Having been founded by Larry Ellison...
The cultural values of innovation and risk taking, outcome and team orientation, and aggressiveness permeate the culture. As a result the strength of cultural values are often seen in the support that sales managers and directors get within the company. Serving the sales force is a unifying aspect of the culture; all of the characteristics of the culture are focused on how to win new business and keep existing customers. The Oracle culture is further strengthened when a company is acquired. The acquired company's employees are given immediate access to all Oracle collaboration tools and applications including the company Intranet. This gives these new employees a chance to get immediately connected with others throughout the company they will be working with. Employees from acquired companies are assigned to teams immediately and often given their goals and objectives within the first week. The urgency of getting new employees productive further supports the strength of the Oracle culture.
The Oracle culture is highly customer-responsive as a culture. The employees Oracle chooses to hire are often known for their high levels of autonomy and ability to work independently.
