Corporate Cultures – Introduction

Organization members share a collective values system reflected in managerial decisions, individual behaviors, and codified within operating procedures. These values are shaped by both individual beliefs and collective experiences. Taken together, these values form the corporation’s culture.

Corporate culture contributes or detracts from the organization’s success. Regardless of the company’s written objectives, the existing culture will drive the critical decisions and actions that ultimately determine whether or not these goals will be achieved. Therefore, it is not only important to critically and honestly identify the organization’s culture but to also assess the organization’s ability to achieve its mission goals via its chose strategy in light of its culture. Where gaps exist, either the culture or strategy must be changed in order to achieve optimal success.

Finally, it is important to recognize that there is no ‘right’ culture and that no one set of organizational values is superior to another. Rather, differing cultures each present a unique set of benefits and liabilities that should be identified, understood, and incorporated into the organization’s planning and execution process so to ensure optimal organizational effectiveness.

Focus of the Corporate Cultures Topic

Articles within this topic area will address the methods to identify the organization’s values and the various value sets, their benefits and their drawbacks.

Articles

Principles Articles

• Culture Trumps Strategy    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Culture’s Impact on How Work Gets Done    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Culture Change Penalty    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• What Does Your Environment Communicate?    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor Articles

• Leading Through Turbulent Times by Ed Cohen and Priscilla Nelson
• Inspiring Employees with a Values-Rich Environment by Ann Rhoades
• “Trust Me, I’m a Leader”: Why Building a Culture of Trust Will Boost Employee Performance – and Maybe Even Save Your Company by John Hamm

Podcasts

StrategyDriven Podcast – Special Edition

• An Interview with Priscilla Nelson and Ed Cohen, co-authors of Riding the Tiger

Resources

Models

• Culture-based Work Performance Model    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Individual Initiated, Documented Processes Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Individual Initiated, Rules and Standards Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Individual Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Supervisor Initiated, Documented Processes Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Supervisor Initiated, Rules and Standards Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Supervisor Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Leader Initiated, Documented Processes Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Leader Initiated, Rules and Standards Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
• Leader Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment    [StrategyDriven Premium Content]

FREE StrategyDriven Trial Membership Start your FREE trial membership* and receive: FULL ACCESS to StrategyDriven’s premium content for 14 days FREE COPY of a StrategyDriven Expert Contributor book† EVALUATE how StrategyDriven gives you a competitive advantage

* Free 14 day trial included with a monthly membership registration. A monthly recurring subscription of $9.95 will begin after the initial 14 day trial period. Memberships can be cancelled at any time. Premium Member access will continue until the free/paid subscription expires.

† Available only to those living within the United States after the first monthly membership payment is received. Name and address information required. Books typically valued from $14.95 – $29.95 USD. Book value is not guaranteed.

Related Articles:

1. Corporate Cultures – Leader Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment
2. Corporate Cultures – Leader Initiated, Documented Processes Controlled Environment
3. Corporate Cultures – Individual Initiated, Knowledge and Skills Controlled Environment
4. Corporate Cultures – Culture’s Impact on How Work Gets Done
5. Corporate Cultures – Culture-based Work Performance Model