2. WHAT IS CULTURE?
Culture is the set of key values, assumptions, understandings and norms that is
shared by members of an organization and taught to new members as being
correct.
It is the character or personality of an organization.
It is how an organization “feels”.
It is important to consider culture while managing change in the organization.

3. CREATING CORPORATE CULTURE
 The ultimate source of an organization’s culture is its founders.
 Culture creation occurs in three ways:
Employer hires and keeps employees with the same thinking
They indoctrinate and socialize employees with the organization’s thinking
The founder’s behaviour acts as a role model for employees
 With success, the founder’s personality is embedded in the organizational
culture.

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANIZATIONAL
CULTURE
Innovation and Risk
Taking
Attention to Detail
Outcome Orientation

5. CHARACTERISTICS CONT’D
Team Orientation
Aggressiveness
People Orientation
Stability

6. SUSTAINING ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
Three forces play a particularly important part in sustaining a culture:
Selection Process
Actions of Top Management
Socialization Methods

7. HOW ORGANIZATION CULTURES FORM
Philosophy of
Organization’s
Founder
Selection
Criteria
Top
Management
Socialization
Organization
Culture

8. THE POWER OF CULTURE
Leaders now understand that when a company’s
culture supports their strategy, employees can
create a uniquely competitive organization.
 A supportive culture:
gives employees an organizational identity and a
commitment to particular values and ways of doing things
guides members on how to respond to the external
environment

9. NEXT STEPS
Interested in taking steps to assess your current organizational culture from both a
‘Management’ and ‘Employee Group’ perspective?
We would be happy to help!
T: 905.306.8111
F: 905.306.1115
info@engagehr.com
1100 Central Parkway West, Suite 36
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4E5