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Corporate Culture Reviews
Culture
is the complex and unique integration of beliefs, values
and expectations that is created by groups of human beings.
It is visible in the type of behaviour that is encouraged
or discouraged, by the stories that are told to each other
and newcomers about the group and by the symbols that are
meaningful to the group. We see it in different ethnic and
national groups, but also in every organization. When the
organization wants to change, shift or redirect the energies
of the group, attention has to be paid to what kind of new
culture is desired and how to achieve this within the context
of the established culture. The results of a Corporate Culture
Assessment provide the organization with a blueprint for
what needs to be changed, with which groups and in within
what kind of progressive time schedule. The root causes
for dysfunction are identified with recommendations for
targets and methods for change.
Corporate
Culture Assessment
The usual steps in conducting a corporate culture assessment
are:
- Meetings
with senior executives and human resource staff to understand
the current issues and future goals for the organization
- Culture
is found in the communications of an organization so that
all aspects of this area are collected and reviewed
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Individual interviews are held with targeted management
staff
- Focus
groups with employees may be appropriate
- A
report is developed and discussed with senior management
which will include a description of the culture and recommendations
for moving it more into alignment with the future vision
and objectives of the organization
 Case
Report: Corporate Culture Assessment
Design
and Facilitation of Culture Change Workshops
Cultural change requires that employees not only have information
about desired changes, but also have the opportunity to
discuss the reasons for these changes and the impact on
them. It is part of the human condition that most people
need to come to their own conclusions about what is best
for them to do. These workshops provide a venue for learning,
growth and decision-making on an individual as well as a
group level. It is a much quicker approach to gaining support
of new corporate directions, then letting each person go
through their own phases of change – some for which
it can take years and others who will never accept the changes.
With the latter individuals, the workshops are a place to
see more clearly what their decisions must be for their
own success and well-being and this may be not staying with
the new culture.
Case
Report: Design and Facilitation of Culture Change Workshops
International/
Expatriate Culture Management
Despite the multicultural nature of many cities in the world,
some individuals are more successful than others in making
the change to working away from home in a new country. Research
has clearly identified the characteristics of those that
succeed in these changes, and those that don’t.
Sayer
& Associates provides assessment and consultation on
the selection of managers and professionals for expatriate
assignments. This is followed up by ongoing coaching for
these managers as they work to be effective in a new culture
and with new colleagues.
For
organizations, Sayer & Associates provides consulting
on the integration of the corporate culture with the regional
culture of sites that are a great distance from head office
and the organization’s major centres of business. Through
study and experience, we have learned which Organizational
Development and Human Resources practices are not successfully
exported from North America abroad (e.g. 360º management
surveys are ineffective in China). Rather we work with our
clients to find other, culturally appropriate methods to
achieve the business goals that are important for a multinational
corporation.
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