Grid/group study of gender perceptions of the culture of the Oklahoma Civil Air Patrol

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study:

The purpose of this study was to describe member perceptions of the culture of the Oklahoma CAP using an online version of the Douglas Grid/Group typology. This study further described and compared differences in how men and women in the organization view its culture. All senior members of the Oklahoma CAP with a valid email address on file (N=351) were invited to participate in the study. A total of 85 participants responded, 70 male and 15 female. The following research questions guided this study: 1. What is the perceived culture of the Oklahoma CAP by its senior members, as defined by Douglas' Grid/Group Framework? 2. What differences exist in how male and female senior members of the Oklahoma CAP perceive the organization's culture?

Findings and Conclusions:

The mean Grid/Group responses for each participant were plotted on the Grid/Group graph. Grid and Group total means and the means on individual items were compared using independent sample t-test to determine whether there was a difference between male and female responses. The following conclusions were drawn: 1. The organizational culture of the Oklahoma CAP is perceived by its senior members as Strong Grid. 2. There is some disagreement regarding whether the Strong Grid culture of the Oklahoma CAP is Strong Group or Weak Group. 3. Overall, males and females perceive the organizational culture of the Oklahoma CAP very similarly. 4. Males and females differ in the way they perceive communication occurring in the Oklahoma CAP. Female members tended to indicate that communication flowed through individual, informal networks. Males felt that communication flowed through corporate, formal networks. 5. Factors that may cause lower female participation in the Oklahoma CAP appear to be outside the elements identified in the Grid/Group organizational cultural typology.