Making sense and identifying aspects of Indian culture(s) in organisations: Demystifying through empirical evidence

Abstract

The abstract, multifaceted and multidisciplinary nature of the concept of culture has for long led to scholars researching aspects of culture in organisations in India and Indian organisations globally, but in the current context more is needed. Further, India being a diverse, complex and economically re-emerging nation, the aspects of studying culture in organisations in the Indian context becomes more significant and timely. In this editorial piece, we argue that there is a need to acknowledge and appreciate pluralist ideas and conceptualisations of culture, as it will be a good starting point in understanding and demystifying this important and much-less understood concept. We begin by highlighting the importance of studying culture in organisations and provide a historical background of the social and economic changes that have influenced culture in an Indian context. Based on the four contributions in this special issue, we argue that by revisiting some of the existing (and popular) conceptualisations of culture and considering alternate approaches and concepts will help guide future research and scholarship in this vital and highly researched topic. We conclude by stressing that alternate explanations are warranted for overcoming problems of simplistic understandings of this inherently complex concept.