SALEM STATE

UNIVERSITY’S
PINBALL
CULTURE
ORIENTATION ANALYSIS DISCUSSION
PAMELA CORTES-ORTIZ
PINBALL
TABLE/MACHINE

“Organizations are like constantly changing, organic

pinball machines.” (Bolman & Deal, 2017)
SALEM STATE
PINBALL TABLE
Story Line
In the far away land of Salem, MA, a university unique in it’s
kind sits amidst magic and wonder. Salem State University has
stood its ground since 1854, thriving in gaining people of all
kinds to its educational halls. The journey of your mission is to
discover the culture of this institution. This expedition requires
you to experience Salem State’s initiation process, and you
may only proceed after successfully identifying the 5
characteristics of a culture: rituals, ceremonies, stories, values,
and the heroes.

May all the odds be ever in your favor. And may we meet again.
YE OLDE OVERVIEW…
Culture components
Orientation + Culture
Rituals + Ceremonies
Stories
Values/Vision
Heroes/Leadership
Recommendations
CULTURE
 Schein: “A pattern of shared basic
assumptions that a group learned as
it solved problems of external
adaption & integration, that has
worked well enough to be
considered valid and therefore to be
taught to new members as the
correct way to perceive, think, and
feel in relation to those problems.”
 Deal & Kennedy: “The way we do
things.”
 Culture is a product and a
process

(Colman & Deal, p.257-258, 2017)

CULTURE
What makes up institutional culture?
• Rituals
• Ceremonies
• Stories
• Heroes/Leadership
• Myths/Values/Vision
ORIENTATION
What is the purpose of orientation?
 NODA Competencies
 Theoretical & Institutional Knowledge
A ritual composed of rituals
 Said Pam
Overview of Salem State University’s
Orientation
 Two days
 Navigating College
 Registration
 Involvement
WHAT ARE THE
RITUALS &
CEREMONIES?
Purpose of rituals is to connect individuals to institution.
Ceremonies socialize, reassure & convey messages to
external constituencies.
 Staying overnight
 College Identification
 H.A.T.
 Night Activities
 Opening & Closing Ceremonies
 Convocation
WHAT ARE THE
STORIES?
Stories told by organizations and individuals provide the
foundation of identity and hope.
 Stem from myths and they establish traditions.
 What stories are we passing down SSU history?
HEROES/LEADERSHIP
Leadership must have Who are the heroes for
connection with culture. orientation?
 President
 AVP Student Affairs
 Assistant/Associate Deans
 Associate Director
 Presenters
 Orientation Interns
 Orientation Leaders
 Student Leaders
MYTHSVALUESVISION
Myths make the foundation of organizations. Values focus on
commitment and meaning for the organization. Visions
provide a sense of purpose for the future of the organization.
 What do we know from SSU?
 What is the meaning of being a SSU student/alum?
SALEM STATE
MISSION & VALUES?
WHAT ARE OTHER
INSTITUTIONS’
CULTURES?

What are some

rituals from your
orientation that
sticks to you?

Running of the Wolves

SALEM STATE CULTURE
PINBALL TABLE WHERE ARE WE ON
OUR STORY LINE
JOURNEY?
 Students are heroes
 Lack of pride
 Little connection to
values
 Orientation could be
stepping stone to
culture development
 RECOMMENDATIONS
DENNING’S (2015)
EIGHT CATEGORIES
 Sparking Action
 Communicating who you are
 Communicating who the
company is – branding
 Transmitting values
 Fostering collaboration
 Taming the grapevine
 Sharing knowledge
 Leading people into the
future
HEROES & RITUALS
Using the eight
categories,
incorporating the
student’s voices.
Instead of going big
with programming,
thinking of meaningful
events.
COMMENTS?
QUESTIONS?
CONCERNS?
REFERENCES
Bolman, L. G. & Deal, T. E. (2017). Reframing organizations:
Artistry, choice, and leadership (6th edition). San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
NODA Core Comptencies – NODA. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.nodaweb.org/page/core_competencies
Salem State University. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://
www.salemstate.edu/