The Symbolic Frame

A quote that I love from Bolman and Deal states that "An organization's culture is revealed and communicated through its symbols " (Bolman & Deal, 2021, p.255). Symbols are such an important part of an organization because they are less focused on the result of a particular event or action and more concerned with what the symbol stands for. For an organization like Starbucks, their logo of a siren is more about the representation of their culture and values and less about what is printed on the side of their cups. The siren represents Starbucks commitment to creating and maintaining a welcoming third place environment that treats people of all diverse backgrounds fairly. Organizations that utilize the symbolic frame create this culture through myths, vision, values, storytelling, rituals, humor, play, metaphors, and ceremonies. Culture unites an organization at its roots and culture is revealed through symbols. Symbols are a beacon of hope for people experiencing uncertain times and organizations can use their symbols to bring people together. 

The Symbolic Frame Case Analysis

Reflection

The symbolic frame shares the capabilities of an effective symbol. Symbols can unite people, offer a sense of belonging or group membership, or be a beacon of hope. But they can also represent hardship, divide, and fear. Symbols like the American Flag after the 9/11 tragedy and the peace sign were successful in unifying people and instilling hope. However, along with the good times, symbols are inevitably linked to negative times as well. For example, most people know that the peace sign stands for peace, love, unity, and peaceful protest, but it can also remind people of the hardships of war, violence, and hate in the United States in the 60's and 70's and in Europe during the Cold War. The same goes for the Flag reminding people of the actual events of 9/11. Luckily, symbols like the peace sign and the American flag are less about the result and more about what they stand for. This frame is important to understand from an organizational leadership perspective because symbols are a big contributing factor in creating and maintaining your organizations culture. Creating a symbol that represents your organizations culture accurately and appropriately is very important because by creating a symbol that accurately represents your culture, you attract people with similar core values and I believe Starbucks has been effective in those efforts. 
References:
​Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2021). Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership (7th ed.). Jossey-Bass.