Organisation
noun /ɔːɡ(ə)nʌɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/
- A group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business or government department.
- The way activities are managed and completed.
synonyms: company, firm, concern, operation, corporation, institution, group, establishment
Culture
noun /ˈkʌltʃə/
- The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society.
- The way we do things round here.
synonyms: civilization, society, way of life, lifestyle; customs, traditions, heritage, habits
Culture locks itself into organisations:
Businesses develop to solve customer’s problems. As they do that they also start to share customer’s values. They learn what the “right” way to behave is and customers come back. People do business with people.
Organisations build capabilities and structures to support these values and solve those problems. They create rituals and patterns that help them succeed, to make sure everybody is pulling in the “right” way.
Suppliers learn to understand the organisations language and rituals. This helps them provide the “right” solutions.
Employees self select to join organisations that share their values. They pick up on the “right” goals and aspirations and build networks with people who have the “right” approach. They develop strong relationships with business partners and mentors. These colleagues help them develop the “right” behaviours.
Some employees realise they are “wrong” for the organisation. They self select for a second time, and leave.
You can’t have an organisation without a culture
The two are inextricably linked. One won’t survive without the other.
But what was “right” once could well be “wrong” now, and it is really hard to change.
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Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash
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