ServiceElements has built its business on helping organizations understand and better utilize their service culture. In a recent five-year, 11-country study, researchers at Steelcase, the office furniture company, have identified six dimensions of workplace culture that shape the dynamics of the office and therefore impact the culture.
Understanding the dynamics of an organization’s culture can be useful for leadership in planning strategies for the organization. It can be useful for supervisors and managers in their advisory positions. Cultural awareness can also be beneficial to the front line in understanding how to work to the best of their ability within their organization. This will benefit them both professionally as well as personally.
Some of the highlights from this study include the following six dimensions of workplace culture. The two descriptive words would appear at opposite ends of the spectrum. An organization could fall anywhere between the two extremes:
Autocratic - minimal collaboration across levels of power
vs.
Consultative - employees participate in decision making and take initiative
Individualist - self-reliance and autonomy are highly valued
vs.
Collectivist - group cohesion and cooperation take priority
Masculine -achievement and competition dominate the culture
Vs.
Feminine – cooperation and harmony are highly valued
Tolerant of Uncertainty – challenges are tackles as they come
Vs.
Security Oriented – focus on detailed processes and structure
Short Term – focus is on fast returns and on minimizing investments
Vs.
Long Term – emphasis is on investment and company longevity
Low Context – a direct and explicit approach is key to cooperation
Vs.
High Context – indirect communication and unspoken signals are essential in building understanding
Where does your organization fall on each of these continuums?
Reference: Congdon, C., & Gall, C. (2013, May). How Culture Shapes the Office. Harvard Business Review, 34-35.
