30 August 2010
Successful Intentions Newsletter
Hi ,
Culture - all for one and one for all!
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate") is a term that has various meanings. In particular, it is the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterises an institution, organisation or group.
Organisational survival depends on a positive culture. Here are four kinds of organisational culture. Which one characterises your workplace?
- Disconnected: Low fit with what the external market wants, and low internal alignment amongst staff about how how best to work with each other. There is a fundamental dissonance between the direction of the organisation and the agreed means to get there.
- Strategic: Execution is prized above all else. There is high fit with market expectations and a strong direction articulated by the executive. But alignment with the strategic direction is low. There are often silos competing with each other, and dissonant voices are suppressed.
- Interconnected: Here there is high alignment amongst people. They know why they come to work and often it's because of a higher purpose, such as nurses in a hospital setting. There is a sense of synchronicity about how things get done. But there is low fit with the external environment. The organisation can appear "rudderless", lacking strategic direction.
- Synthesis: Finally, there is a culture of both high fit and high alignment. The strategic intent of the organisation is clearly articulated and widely known. And everyone is aligned with the most appropriate ways and means of delivering customer value. Collaboration is high and resources are shared.
Do you want to know how to change your organisation to a more positive culture, ? You can start by downloading the Culture Process diagram here.
And explore my "Wisdom Circle" blog for musings, research, and applications of practical wisdom!
Keep your intentions clear,
Peter Webb
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