CEVAP:

The discussion about ‘organization is’ versus ‘organization has’ is about whether culture can be studied objectively or if one must immerse herself in the culture she is studying. The first view is called the etic approach, while the second view is called the emic approach. When scientists espouse the ‘organization is’ approach, they immerse themselves in the culture of the organization and practice an emic methodology. When they espouse the ‘organization has’ approach, they stand back from the organization and try to observe and quantify the culture as neutrally as possible.