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A recent strategy + business article on 'The Organization Is Alive' gave an interesting view on the people' aspect of culture and was another indication of the value businesses going through organizational change can gain from having people skilled in techniques for mapping and planning culture
In the article, author Art Kleiner poses a question... A recent strategy + business article on 'The Organization Is Alive' gave an interesting view on the people' aspect of culture and was another indication of the value businesses going through organizational change can gain from having people skilled in techniques for mapping and planning culture. In the article, author Art Kleiner poses a question based on the work of Sherwin B Nuland, a Yale University based surgeon and writer. Nuland showed how the cardiovascular system, the neural network, the endocrine system, and other biological systems are vital channels of communication for the health and vitality of the whole 'human system' Kleiner asks "might something similar be true of companies and other organization?" His basis for asking this is from his work on identifying four themes of influence operating within all organizations that he's uncovered from "numerous management literature and everyday corporate practice." Kleiner names these four themes, The Hierarchy (a circulatory system of information and authority), The Network (the information that determines organizational capability), The Market (the exchange of goods and services and money) and The Clan (the family/community operating below the surface) can determine the speed and effectiveness of organizational change and of business performance. The Clan, as my clients will know, have a huge influence on the culture of the organization and Kleiners' studies point to the importance of finding, understanding and working with The Clan, if you want to make fast, lasting change. "The clan (or core group) structure might be analogous to the endocrine system. If you want to change a person in a hurry, give him or her a drug. Similarly, if you want to change an organization, make a sudden and dramatic change in the core group. But be careful of overdoses. For what travels through a core group structure easily is emotionally charged information: legitimacy, pride, shame, misunderstanding, and loyalty. Change these cavalierly, and you can send an organization's morale and performance crashing to the ground." Worth remembering when approaching cultural change. Find out more about how my Get Tribal Culture Mapping process can build your skill base to better find, understand and work with The Clan operating in your organization Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out more about My Get Tribal! Culture Mapping Workshop. Join the tribe HERE to post a comment and join in the conversation |
