Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

The observable symbols and signs of an organization's culture are called:

1. artifacts.

2. cultural formatting.

3. its cultural decor.

4. its cultural design.

The correct answer is: artifacts.

Artifacts are the visible and tangible elements that represent an organization’s culture. These can include objects, symbols, rituals, and practices that are observable within the organization. Artifacts reflect the underlying values and beliefs of the organization, providing insight into how those within the organization interact and what is valued. For example, open office spaces might signify a culture of collaboration, while formal dress codes could indicate a more traditional or hierarchical culture. The significance of artifacts lies in their ability to communicate the essence of the culture to both members of the organization and external observers. Other terms, like cultural formatting, cultural decor, and cultural design, do not specifically encapsulate the established terminology used to describe these observable aspects of culture. While they might suggest related concepts, they do not accurately denote the various artifacts that comprise an organization’s visible culture.