Final answer:
The weekly meeting is a ritual, an observable artifact in organizational culture that embodies the company's social structure and serves to reinforce shared values and behavioral norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario described, the weekly meeting at 9:00 a.m. with the CEO and staff is best described as a ritual. In organizational culture, a ritual is a type of observable artifact that involves repeated, patterned actions conventionally associated with a particular meaning. These rituals often incorporate symbolic objects and actions that align with the company's social structures and create a sense of shared experience among employees. They are a means of socializing workers into the workplace culture, manifesting both material and nonmaterial aspects of that culture. In this context, the ritual serves the purpose of regular communication and interaction, reinforcing the company's values and hierarchies.
Rituals embody the norms and rules that govern workplace behavior, and through these structured interactions, employees learn about the organization's expectations and values. They are integral to the organizational framework, establishing and reinforcing the company's culture. As such, this weekly meeting is not just a simple gathering but a cultural artifact that symbolizes the company's commitment to open dialogue and collective engagement.