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Thursday, May 07, 2009
Characteristics of a Successful Organizational Culture - Part 2
Signs your organization's culture is healthy
Change is not seen as a goal but a journey
An individual’s status in the organization is gained because of their results ...and methods ...and communications, not their role or title
People have fun at work
People become more willing to speak their minds
All levels of the organization come together to solve problems
Risk taking is encouraged
Project management is taken seriously
Senior staff and executives are visible, available, and relevant
There are blurred lines between organizational groups and departments
External employee concerns (home, family, school) are part of the organization’s agenda
Teams evaluate themselves and other teams
Teams determine who is on or off “the team”
Executives and senior managers that show anti-social behavior or who are not team players are told to seek work elsewhere
People manage themselves
People doing the work are looked upon as experts on how the work should be done
Organizational decisions, rewards, and results are shared openly
There are formal and explicit links and work rules between internal groups
Managers are visible, informed, and accountable
Team assessments are used to measure a Team’s success
There is a new paradigm about what the organization owes the employee and what the employee owes the organization
The gap between potential and performance is reduced (must be measured by outsiders)
Teams replace supervisors
Information is shared about the organization’s failures, problems, successes, and opportunities
People smile more and like coming to work
People discuss then decide
Trust, Respect, Integrity, and Truthfulness are not an option
People are eager and willing to learn new things
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Characteristics of a Successful Organizational Culture
Culture can be described as a set of behaviors that are refined and are used or sought after by people in their group. Cultural behaviors are a set of shared ideas and beliefs that are associated with a way of life.
In highly effective enterprises, cultures tend to have the following characteristics. There are many more, but these are some that come to mind:
Leaders lead and teach others to be leaders
A positive attitude is displayed by key managers and leaders
The organization's plans, policies, procedures, rules, and strategic direction are well documented and discussed at all levels of the organization
The opinions of employees are valued and they believe they are key members of the larger enterprise team
Work teams are encouraged to develop solutions to organizational problems
Continuous improvement is a part of the way business is done
The organization believes in and practices a philosophy of creativity and innovation
Professional politicians are looked at as a liability
Interdependent relationships are numerous and exist at all levels of the organization
Employees are recognized for their achievements
Feedback is continuous and two-way
Senior managers are visible and available
Resourse planning is practiced continuously
There is "Systems Thinking"
There is a shrinking gap between organizatinal potential and performance (and it is measured)
Team members evaluate the performance of their team as a whole and eliminate unproductive members that are unwilling to perform at acceptable levels
Senior management understands that the people doing the work are the ones that know how the work should be done
Managers are facilitators and coaches
Moral is high and people are satisfied with their jobs
People are committed to the organization's goals and to their work groups success
In highly effective enterprises, cultures tend to have the following characteristics. There are many more, but these are some that come to mind:
Leaders lead and teach others to be leaders
A positive attitude is displayed by key managers and leaders
The organization's plans, policies, procedures, rules, and strategic direction are well documented and discussed at all levels of the organization
The opinions of employees are valued and they believe they are key members of the larger enterprise team
Work teams are encouraged to develop solutions to organizational problems
Continuous improvement is a part of the way business is done
The organization believes in and practices a philosophy of creativity and innovation
Professional politicians are looked at as a liability
Interdependent relationships are numerous and exist at all levels of the organization
Employees are recognized for their achievements
Feedback is continuous and two-way
Senior managers are visible and available
Resourse planning is practiced continuously
There is "Systems Thinking"
There is a shrinking gap between organizatinal potential and performance (and it is measured)
Team members evaluate the performance of their team as a whole and eliminate unproductive members that are unwilling to perform at acceptable levels
Senior management understands that the people doing the work are the ones that know how the work should be done
Managers are facilitators and coaches
Moral is high and people are satisfied with their jobs
People are committed to the organization's goals and to their work groups success