A Definition
There is no universally accepted definition of organizational culture. This is why we establish our research-based version up front, every time, ensuring that everyone is working from the same page. As explained in Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @ Work, culture is:
…all things that have the power to influence behaviors, interactions, and perception. It communicates the boundaries of what is acceptable and not acceptable and manifests itself in how people behave, interact, react, and perceive reality. Culture is created, reinforced, and experienced by people. It includes what is said and how it’s lived. Simply put, culture is made up of what’s acceptable, unacceptable or condoned.
–Karen Jaw-Madson, Principal, Co.-Design of Work Experience
Your organization is made up of its own combination of leaders and talent—and therefore has its own unique culture. Whether anyone’s paying attention or not, your company culture is either working as an asset or liability to your business. Company culture is often a liability due to neglect.
Oftentimes, we notice the symptoms—the worst examples of leadership, high turnover, lack of trust, no psychological safety, poor teamwork and collaboration, absence of innovation, anemic learning and development, etc. However, the “thing behind everything”—when it comes down to the root cause—is the culture. Co.-Design of Work Experience enables you and your organization to intentionally design, implement, and sustain organizational culture where both people and business thrive.
The Solution
How? With the proprietary framework, Design of Work Experience (DOWE): the much needed, step-by-step “how-to” for culture and experiences at work. This interdisciplinary concept applies innovation where it’s really needed: the workplace. We have accepted mediocre far too long when any aspect of the experience– strategies, employee life cycle, interactions, or capabilities—can be intentionally managed through culture. For those that are willing to invest in organizational culture, they can achieve true differentiation that pays long-term dividends. There’s far too much work to be done, so Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @ Work was published to create access for all. Click here to learn more about DOWE or order the book.