Theorising the Concept of Organisational Artefacts: How It Enhances the Development of Corporate/Organisational Identity

Abstract

Organisational artefacts are materials, buildings, symbols, names, images, logos, catchwords that make sense to all the stakeholders of an organisation; they therefore have meanings and do not just exist. Artefacts demonstrate the culture, norms and values of those who are in the organisation as well as all its stakeholders. In a nutshell it is a medium of communication within the members of the organisation and those outside the organisation; it makes enormous statements. This paper employing the descriptive/historical approach will examine the impacts of organisational artefacts on business organisations including how it helps in the development of a corporate identity in the organisations. This is more so as an organisation’s identity –expressed partly through organisational artefacts- goes directly to the heart of the existence of the organisation. The study concludes that directly and indirectly, knowingly and unknowingly, organisational artefacts enhance the development of corporate identity.