Changing Corporate Culture

Before getting right into the idea of changing corporate culture it is important to define exactly what corporate culture is. According to Ellen Wallach, a well respected business analyst, "Corporate culture is like pornography; it is hard to define, but you know it when you see it." So what exactly is corporate culture? Well according to my research, corporate culture is the moral, social, and behavioral norms of an organization based on the beliefs, attitudes, and priorities of its members. The culture of the organization is typically created unconsciously, based on the values of the top management or the founders of an organization.

"For example, the culture of a large, for-profit corporation is quite different than that of a hospital which is quite different that that of a university. You can tell the culture of an organization by looking at the arrangement of furniture, what they brag about, what members wear, etc.

Corporation Street, Birmingham - Midland Metro wor...

Corporation Street, Birmingham - Exhibition Bus

Corporation Street, Birmingham - Temple Point

-- similar to what you can use to get a feeling about someone's personality."

So now that we have a good understanding of what it is, how is it important to us today? Well corporate culture is very important for the success of a business. If employees are happy with their work environment, then generally the company will profit from this, because a happy worker is a busy worker. Companies do much to make their employees happy. Many perks and benefits are offered to employees, especially those working for large corporations. Take-home meals, onsite childcare and elaborate fitness centers are a just of the perks companies offer to foster an employee-friendly culture. Frederick F. Reichheld, a director of Boston-based management consultancy Bain & Co. and leader of its worldwide loyalty practice states that "benefits should not be confused with culture, and many companies wrongly assume that...