Overview: Business cultures of the past were often built around rules, control, and hierarchy. Change came slow and decisions came from the top down. Today's fast-paced and changing world rewards groups that can be flexible and focus on customer needs. Access to new information and time to respond, change, and renew skills can reduce stress and facilitate needed change.

How Organizational Culture Works: All employees and managers help create--and can change--organizational culture. People at all levels can build skills to produce needed change for themselves, their work roles, and the organization as a whole. Models for success include one that proposes "level-to-level training." Managers practice skills-and then support their teams to learn the skills. Another model integrates strategic planning with business practices and behavior. Stakeholders--customers, suppliers, and public--can also play a role.

The Payoff: The resources and effort invested in "getting everyone headed in the same direction" can benefit an organization, its people and its customers.

How to Make It Happen: Organizations of all kinds-including those establishing their culture for the first time, join with facilitators to assess needs, plan, and shape or change culture, using tools:

• electronic surveys and cultural audits,
• dialog, future vision & strategic plans,
• workforce training and development,
• teaming and learning organization skills.

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