Synonyms or different concepts: ‘Organizational’ and ‘corporate’ culture in modern Russian and foreign scholarly discourse
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33910/2686-9527-2026-8-1-103-117Keywords:
organizational culture, corporate culture, definition, synonym, relationship between the concepts of organizational and corporate cultureAbstract
Introduction. This article analyzes the evolution of scholarly research and Russian and foreign scholars’ perspectives on the definitions of ‘organizational’ and ‘corporate’ culture in an interdisciplinary context. The study addresses a significant methodological issue, since the semantic content of these concepts shapes research context, providing not only a theoretical framework but also methodology for empirical investigation and a meaning-forming foundation for organizational management concepts.
Materials and Methods. This study employs an integrated approach, including data reduction on the topic with subsequent theoretical analysis and systematization. The primary methods comprise theoretical analysis and quantitative content analysis with categorization of relevant information. Sources were selected based on methodological validity, topic relevance, and scholarly significance, primarily including fundamental works, peer-reviewed publications, and practitioners’ perspectives. Content analysis of Russian publications was conducted using official scientific resources and encompasses Russian dissertations and articles containing the terms ‘organizational culture’ and ‘corporate culture’ published from 1990 to 2025. The analysis of foreign studies is based on scientific articles.
Results. Over the past 35 years, a total of 411 dissertations (including 31 Doctor of Sciences dissertations) have been defended in Russia on these phenomena: 242 on ‘organizational culture’ and 169 on ‘corporate culture’. Russian scholarly articles more frequently use ‘organizational culture’, whereas foreign articles predominantly employ ‘corporate culture’ to describe the topic. In Russian research, these terms are often considered synonyms, with contextual limitations. Foreign scholars likewise acknowledge their synonymity while highlighting structural, cultural, and national nuances.
Conclusion. As both terms reflect the same psychological phenomenon in organizational management, where internal elements are of primary importance, the author considers it justifiable to treat these concepts as synonyms or interchangeable, since for employees this phenomenon constitutes a key factor affecting their psycho-emotional state.
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