Company Culture

The core of a culture is formed by values. Many values remain unconscious to those who hold them. Therefore they often cannot be discussed, nor can they be directly observed by others. Values can only be inferred from the way people act under different circumstances.

Dictionary.com says that company culture is defined as “Pervasive, deep, and largely subconscious, code that gives the 'feel' of an organization and determines what is considered right or wrong. All new employees must assimilate this code to know the correct way to behave and what to expect from other employees.” (Definition: Company Culture)

Business leaders often assume that their company's vision, values, and strategic priorities are synonymous with their company's culture. Unfortunately, too often, these are only the words hanging on a plaque on the wall. Corporate culture is actually the container for the vision, mission and values. It is not synonymous with it. In a thriving profitable company, employees will embody the values of their company.

Because company culture is so hard to define, there are several different layers of company culture that can be examplified inside your company.

chart of layers with examples: According to Entarga’s article on business culture…. layers of company culture…..

The same article on businss culture backs up the layers of company culture with this statement, “One business operating style is not necessarily better then another, each style has its advantages and disadvantages and can only be judged within each organization.” (Business Culture)

Interpret all support material: Everything that we have talked about up to now, should be telling you that company culture is very important.

According to a Human Resources Tools article, “Every three to four years, companies lose an average of 50 percent of their staff. While that is a staggering statistic, the next is even more powerful. The cost to replace an employee who leaves is 50 percent of that person's salary.” (Are you losing employees you want to keep) These kinds of numbers are a staggering reason to keep in mind why you need a positive company culture to support your employees.

The easiest way to think of corporate culture is that it is an energy field that determines how people think, act, and view the world around them. I often compare culture to electricity. Culture is powerful and invisible and its effects are far reaching. Culture is an energy force that becomes woven through the thinking, behavior, and identity of those within the group.

A change in company culture moved Best Buy to see productivity soar 41% between 2005 and 2007. (Thompson)

I can only hope that a change in your company culture is as profitable for you, but any increase in motivation is a good increase in productivity.

Thompson, Cali Ressler and Jody. "Finding Freedom at Work." 30 May 2008. Times Magazine. 17 October 2009 <http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1810690,00.html>.

"Defination: Company Culture." Dictionary.Com. 11 November 2009 <www.dictionary.com>.

 *Parts of this article are also posted at suite101.com by the same author