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The Togetherness Culture Decoupled

Petersohn, Katharina LU and Forker, Nele LU (2025) BUSN49 20251
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
The purpose of our thesis is to examine means-ends decoupling from an employee-centric perspective, focusing on the interplay of organizational culture and identity, as well as leadership and sensemaking. Based on a qualitative case study of a merged organization, we explore how these dynamics unfold in practice. The main theoretical framework is means-ends decoupling as described by Bromley and Powell (2012). Additionally, we draw upon theories related to organizational culture and values, organizational identity, leadership, and sensemaking. Though from a structural perspective the merger appears successful, we identify a paradox: there is a strong desire for ‘togetherness’, but the daily practices do not reflect this and instead reveal... (More)
The purpose of our thesis is to examine means-ends decoupling from an employee-centric perspective, focusing on the interplay of organizational culture and identity, as well as leadership and sensemaking. Based on a qualitative case study of a merged organization, we explore how these dynamics unfold in practice. The main theoretical framework is means-ends decoupling as described by Bromley and Powell (2012). Additionally, we draw upon theories related to organizational culture and values, organizational identity, leadership, and sensemaking. Though from a structural perspective the merger appears successful, we identify a paradox: there is a strong desire for ‘togetherness’, but the daily practices do not reflect this and instead reveal a persistent means-ends decoupling. Our thesis contributes to the literature by adding a hidden cultural layer to the existing means-ends decoupling model (Bromley & Powell, 2012). (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Petersohn, Katharina LU and Forker, Nele LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A Qualitative Case Study of Organizational Integration at Univo
course
BUSN49 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Coupling theory, means-ends decoupling, organizational culture, shared identity, leadership, sensemaking, sensegiving
language
English
id
9192410
date added to LUP
2025-06-23 09:43:38
date last changed
2025-06-23 09:43:38
@misc{9192410,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of our thesis is to examine means-ends decoupling from an employee-centric perspective, focusing on the interplay of organizational culture and identity, as well as leadership and sensemaking. Based on a qualitative case study of a merged organization, we explore how these dynamics unfold in practice. The main theoretical framework is means-ends decoupling as described by Bromley and Powell (2012). Additionally, we draw upon theories related to organizational culture and values, organizational identity, leadership, and sensemaking. Though from a structural perspective the merger appears successful, we identify a paradox: there is a strong desire for ‘togetherness’, but the daily practices do not reflect this and instead reveal a persistent means-ends decoupling. Our thesis contributes to the literature by adding a hidden cultural layer to the existing means-ends decoupling model (Bromley & Powell, 2012).}},
  author       = {{Petersohn, Katharina and Forker, Nele}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Togetherness Culture Decoupled}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}