In this case study, we see how corporate culture develops as an ethos "let's bury our differences and keep the peace") created and s tained by social processes, images, symbols, and ritual. Rituals are often embedded in the formal structure of the organization, as in the case of the president's weekly staff meeting, the real function of which was to affirm that senior members of the organization were at some form of peace with each other. The case also illustrates the crucial role played by those in power in shaping the values that guide an organization. In this example, en though the president was perceived by the staff as being relatively weak, he managed to exert a decisive influence on the nature of the orga nization. The case also shows how historical circumstances, in this case the conflict between inside and outside groups, can shape the present. We also see how the fundamental nature of an organization rests as much in its corporate culture as in the more formal organization chart and codes of procedure. Indeed, it is probably no exaggeration to suggest that, in this case, corporate culture may have been the single most important factor standing between success and failure. The idea of building a team of integrated players is a powerful one, and the president of the insurance company was probably not at fault in choosing this metaphor. Rather, the problems lay in the way it was coued with norms favoring passivity. Had the metaphor been linked with an ethos favoring openness and innovation, and had team players been encouraged to make active contributions, the company's fortunes could have turned out very differently indeed. Hewlett-Packard (H-P), a recognized leader in the he case W microelectronics business. H-P was started in the 1940s by B Hewlett and Dave Packard and has established a corporate cu ure famed for coupled with a philosophy of innovation strong team commitment through people. The company decided to put the team ethos on the line in its history, adopting a policy that it would not be "a hire and fire early company." This principle was severely tested on a couple of occasions in e 1970s, as it has been many times since then, when declines in business forced the company to adopt the policy of a ne-day fortnight, whereby staff took a 10 percent pay cut and worked 10 percent fewer hours. Whereas other companies resorted to layoffs, H-P kept its full complement of staff, thus emphasizing that a members of the H-P team ne and that a measure of job security was possible shared the same for even in unfavorable times.