Transcript Culture
Managing Change through Cultural Change Sara Banki Sharif University of Technology The Big Question Why won’t most change efforts last? Either at individual or organization level? Lewin’s Change Process and Change Problems Organizational Culture …the underlying set of key values, beliefs, assumptions, and norms shared by employees Why Culture is Powerful Culture is powerful for three primary reasons: 1. Because individuals are selected and indoctrinated so well. 2. Because the culture exerts itself through the actions of hundreds of thousands of people. 3. Because all of this happens without much conscious intent and thus is difficult to challenge or even discuss. There is more to change than tasks. It is what’s below the surface that counts! Culture is invisible Observable Underlying Observable evidence can provide clues as to culture Symbols Ceremonies, Stories, Slogans, Behaviors, Dress, Physical Settings Underlying Values, Assumptions, Beliefs, Attitudes, Feelings Four Elements of Culture Values: defines good/bad Role Models: success examples Rituals/Rites: procedures and control mechanisms Cultural Infrastructure: other factors demonstrating culture Organizational Values Values define good and bad, right and wrong Values define how we act and what has priority in the organization Values have their own share of problems • A value system that does not match the vision • Failure to match the daily organizational reality • No longer relevant or obsolete • Inconsistently applied Vision ≠ Value System New Resistance by conforming to old values Alignment Old Status quo Extinguishing of new values Old New Vision Value System Examine the Actual Values What is said is not always done. Look for values in action not values on paper. Values Inconsistently Applied It is hard to put a value system in place when the values are not applied in a consistent fashion Role Models Examples of Desired Performance Living examples of what success What behaviors are associated with success? looks like What behaviors are associated with failure? New Employee Observe Success in Others Success and Promotion Emulation It Boils Down to Skills and Desire You need to define what success looks like in the new organization and develop and align new role models (or bring on board the old ones) Have skills Coaching Change Leader Do not have skills Old Role Model Solutions A Real Problem Training No desire Desire Rites & Rituals Rituals: Procedures and the way things are done Rites: Controlling the procedures, making sure it happens the same way Cultural Infrastructure Cultural infrastructure is informal organization structure that shows how each person contributed to the culture • Keepers of the faith • Story tellers • Informal communication channels • Symbols and language Keepers of the Faith Mentors of the organization They are the face of the organization and distribute culture to newcomers Your task: convince them to mentor new ways. Story Tellers Historians of the organization Promoting the culture through past stories of ups and downs of the organization Your task: new stories about the new culture Informal Communication Channels Informal communication system Spreading news that shows uncertainty and anxioty in the organization. Your task – open communication – providing relative information through formal communication channels Symbols & Language Symbols Artifacts that show what matters in the organization Language Technical or general choice of words Your task – make sure everyone understands the language Anchoring Change in a Culture Comes last, not first: Most alterations in norms and shared values come at the end of the transformation process. Depends on results: New approaches usually sink into a culture only after it’s very clear that they work and are superior to old methods. Anchoring Change in a Culture Requires a lot of talk: Without verbal instruction and support, people are often reluctant to admit the validity of new practices. Many involve turnover: Sometimes the only way to change a culture is to change key people. Makes decision on succession crucial: If promotion processes are not changed to be compatible with the new practices, the old culture will reassert itself. Some Questions About Your Organization’s Culture What are the norms of group behavior and shared values that characterize your organization's culture? What aspects of culture need to change in order for your change initiative to stick? What aspects of the culture need to be retained? [email protected]