1|Page
PUB2619 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2026 (Answer Guide)
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
A CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF THE ARTEFACTS AND ELEMENTS OF INSTITUTIONAL
CULTURE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.................................................................................................. 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 2
2.0 UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE ..................................................................... 2
3.0 ARTEFACTS OF INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE ......................................................................... 3
3.1 Institutional Stories and Legends ......................................................................................... 3
3.2 Rituals and Ceremonies .......................................................................................................... 4
3.3 Institutional Language ............................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Physical Structures and Symbols ......................................................................................... 5
4.0 ELEMENTS OF INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE ............................................................................ 5
4.1 Adaptive Culture ........................................................................................................................ 5
4.2 Work Lifestyle............................................................................................................................. 6
4.3 Ethical Conduct ......................................................................................................................... 6
4.4 Sense of Belonging................................................................................................................... 6
5.0 APPLICATION TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ............................................................................. 7
6.0 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................. 7
References .......................................................................................................................................... 9
, 2|Page
A CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF THE ARTEFACTS AND ELEMENTS OF
INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Institutional culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, norms and assumptions that
influence how employees understand their institution and how they behave within it. In
public institutions, culture is particularly important because it influences relationships
among employees, leadership practices, service delivery and the way institutions
respond to citizens and other stakeholders. Institutional culture develops over time
through shared experiences and becomes reflected in everyday practices and
behaviours. Griffin et al. (2019, p. 501) describe institutional culture as a pervasive set
of shared beliefs, values and norms that provides employees with a collective guide for
adapting to institutional circumstances. Similarly, Armstrong and Taylor (2020, p. 195)
explain that culture encompasses an institution's values, beliefs, traditions, ways of
operating and internal working environment. This essay critically discusses four major
artefacts of institutional culture, namely institutional stories and legends, rituals and
ceremonies, institutional language, and physical structures and symbols. It further
examines adaptive culture, work lifestyle, ethical conduct and sense of belonging, using
public-sector examples to demonstrate their practical significance.
2.0 UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE
Institutional culture operates at both visible and less visible levels. Schein (2010, p. 23)
explains that culture can be understood through three levels: artefacts, espoused beliefs
and values, and basic underlying assumptions. Artefacts represent the most visible level
and include things that employees and outsiders can see, hear or experience, such as
language, stories, physical structures, rituals and ceremonies. However, visible
artefacts do not always reveal the deeper meaning of a culture. Schein (2010, p. 24)
cautions that artefacts are relatively easy to observe but can be difficult to interpret
because their meaning depends on the assumptions and values of the people within the
institution.
PUB2619 Assignment 2 Semester 2 2026 (Answer Guide)
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2026
Contents
A CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF THE ARTEFACTS AND ELEMENTS OF INSTITUTIONAL
CULTURE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.................................................................................................. 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 2
2.0 UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE ..................................................................... 2
3.0 ARTEFACTS OF INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE ......................................................................... 3
3.1 Institutional Stories and Legends ......................................................................................... 3
3.2 Rituals and Ceremonies .......................................................................................................... 4
3.3 Institutional Language ............................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Physical Structures and Symbols ......................................................................................... 5
4.0 ELEMENTS OF INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE ............................................................................ 5
4.1 Adaptive Culture ........................................................................................................................ 5
4.2 Work Lifestyle............................................................................................................................. 6
4.3 Ethical Conduct ......................................................................................................................... 6
4.4 Sense of Belonging................................................................................................................... 6
5.0 APPLICATION TO PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ............................................................................. 7
6.0 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................. 7
References .......................................................................................................................................... 9
, 2|Page
A CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF THE ARTEFACTS AND ELEMENTS OF
INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Institutional culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, norms and assumptions that
influence how employees understand their institution and how they behave within it. In
public institutions, culture is particularly important because it influences relationships
among employees, leadership practices, service delivery and the way institutions
respond to citizens and other stakeholders. Institutional culture develops over time
through shared experiences and becomes reflected in everyday practices and
behaviours. Griffin et al. (2019, p. 501) describe institutional culture as a pervasive set
of shared beliefs, values and norms that provides employees with a collective guide for
adapting to institutional circumstances. Similarly, Armstrong and Taylor (2020, p. 195)
explain that culture encompasses an institution's values, beliefs, traditions, ways of
operating and internal working environment. This essay critically discusses four major
artefacts of institutional culture, namely institutional stories and legends, rituals and
ceremonies, institutional language, and physical structures and symbols. It further
examines adaptive culture, work lifestyle, ethical conduct and sense of belonging, using
public-sector examples to demonstrate their practical significance.
2.0 UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE
Institutional culture operates at both visible and less visible levels. Schein (2010, p. 23)
explains that culture can be understood through three levels: artefacts, espoused beliefs
and values, and basic underlying assumptions. Artefacts represent the most visible level
and include things that employees and outsiders can see, hear or experience, such as
language, stories, physical structures, rituals and ceremonies. However, visible
artefacts do not always reveal the deeper meaning of a culture. Schein (2010, p. 24)
cautions that artefacts are relatively easy to observe but can be difficult to interpret
because their meaning depends on the assumptions and values of the people within the
institution.
