Diagnosing Culture: Post #2--Culture

Culture  “...the taken-for-granted values, underlying assumptions, expectations, and definitions that characterize organizations and their members….culture is a socially constructed attribute of organizations that serves as the social glue binding an organization together.”  It’s a kind of code that people have engraved on their minds, unwritten rules about how to get along in the organization—unwritten rules that are strictly enforced! Most people are unaware of culture until it’s threatened.  The structure of culture from bottom to top is: Implicit Assumptions (unconscious drivers); Conscious Contracts and Norms (rules of the game); Artifacts (buildings, dress, offices, etc.); and Explicit Behaviors (how we treat each other and behave). Types of Culture: There are a number of culture levels, such as global (East vs. West), National (China, US), Occupational (Doctors, Lawyers), Regional (Rural, Urban), Organizational (dominant leadership style), and Team (sub-unit uniqueness).