What term describes the actual behaviors that occur within an organization?

The term that best describes the actual behaviors that occur within an organization is enacted values. Enacted values refer specifically to the behaviors and actions that individuals and groups within an organization demonstrate in their daily activities. These values are observable and reflect what people truly do, as opposed to what they claim to value.

In organizational settings, there can often be a discrepancy between what is professed and what is practiced. Espoused values represent the stated values and norms that an organization claims to uphold. While they provide insight into the organizational philosophy, they do not necessarily reflect actual behavior.

Cultural norms are the shared expectations and rules that guide behavior within a group, but they are broader and encompass both stated and enacted values. Underlying assumptions are the deeply embedded, taken-for-granted behaviors that typically guide users' perceptions, thoughts, and feelings; they are less about observable actions and more about unconscious beliefs.

By focusing on enacted values, one gains a clearer understanding of the true nature of organizational culture as it is lived out in practice. This makes enacted values crucial in assessing how aligned an organization's behavior is with its declared values and objectives.