What is Organizational Culture?
Let's talk about organizational culture...I SAW THAT! I SAW THAT! You rolled your eyes! I caught you! I know, I know: organizational culture can be soft, mushy, hard-to-understand stuff that invokes stuff like mission statements, vision, initiatives, blah, blah, blah. Most people want something they can grasp like a process they can improve or a policy they can read. I have the same issue.
So, it was no surprise that when I was struggling to define and describe organizational culture, I went back to my well. You see, I love sports. Those that know me probably tire of the times I talk about needing organizational "shut-down cornerbacks" and the game "slowing down" for experienced leaders like it does for veteran quarterbacks. But those analogies help me understand difficult to grasp business concepts. I did the same to help me wrap my mind around the concept of organizational culture. I suggest you use the following exercise for somebody who doesn't "get" culture or get why leadership and management guru Peter Drucker noted the significance of culture by saying "Culture eats strategy for breakfast!"
First though, let me explain my foundation: I got a definition of culture I could understand from a piece entitled "Culture and Values" from IBM Development Works. It defines culture as "...a set of characteristics that sets one group of people apart from another." That's simple and straightforward, I thought. It then said "Another way to think about this is that a culture defines how a set of abstract principles is translated into day-to-day behavior." Right about the time I was about to roll my eyes and go check the latest sports news, it all clicked for me. Tie organizational culture to what so many of us already identify with: our favorite sports teams! Here goes the exercise:
1) Ask those interested (especially former jocks like me) what their favorite sport to watch is, the one they watch most fervently (The NFL, college basketball, international futbol...).
2) Ask them what their favorite team in that sport is.
3) Next, ask them to describe their favorite team. If they are true fans, they will either begin to brag about championships recent or long past or they might start to explain their team's historic stumbles and challenges. Don't be surprised when they show real emotion when describing their team.
4) Explain that what they are describing is their team's perceived organizational culture. Expressions like "A culture of losing" and "A winning tradition" come from this. Each expression defines organizational culture for that team.
If they balk at the notion and don't see the parallels, discuss how their team's successes and foibles comprise the fans' perception of and appreciation/hatred of the team's actions. Were you guys happy with last year's draft picks? Why did your team keep a pitcher that consistently loses? Your point guard's always injured; why doesn't your team trade him? All of these activities comprise "day-to-day behavior" by the team (see the definition above) that reflect abstract operating principles that the team's organizational leaders are guided by.
And ultimately, these activities that reflect abstract operating principles comprise the team's organizational culture. A team has a bad season, they fix deficiencies and get better next year. But if they lose year after year, well, they are considered "losers" that exist within a losing culture. I'm sure you can come up with a half-dozen sports teams like that right off of the top of your head.
The last step for your previously confused sports fan is to have them think of their "team" at work. How many "wins" have you guys had lately? What do you think of your "coach"? How did you guys "score" last quarter versus your targets? Do other "teams" in the company respect you guys? How do you guys "play" with each other? Can you "move the ball down the field"?
You get my point. Of course, if you need me to continue, give me a call and I could continue connecting business to sports all night long. Please let me know if the exercise is helpful via the comment section or via email.
Mike Stewart•2K followers
11yI was a UC student coop at my 2d place to work. The environment was a Corporate HQs. That's where I got my first real taste of Organizational Culture. I was constantly hearing, "That's how we expect things done at the corporate level." They were very regimental - dress right dress! You couldn't look at any one the wrong way or say anything construed as being offensive. I was almost afraid to work there because I've always been blunt and honest. However, I did became more aware of the cultural, political, and attitude instilment within a corporate environment. Next time, I will have a better idea of what to expect and to make sure I observe what the "norm" is for that particular organization.
Expeditionary Warfare…•622 followers
11yRoy great read! This is something that is always around but rarely appreciated. In the Military the organizational culture is evident, the battles we have been in and the history that we uphold. In the workforce I could see this as something a little harder to explain and have people look at it and appreciate it. This exercise is a great way to put this into words and create an awareness.
Vision Finder International•50K followers
11yGreat article Roy!!
TiER1 Performance Solutions•3K followers
11yThe sports team analogy worked so well for me that i wrote an entire book on it. My sport of choice for the book was motorcycle racing. http://organizationhorsepower.com/
KYT Endeavors•6K followers
11yActually, Roy Nickerson, you are dead on target when you said, "Another way to think about this is that a culture defines how a set of abstract principles is translated into day-to-day behavior."