Definition of Corporate Culture

Are you looking for a clear definition of corporate· Work Environment
culture? You have come to the right place!I have· Benefits
developed a definition of corporate culture after nearly· Perks
20 years of working with organizations and viewing· Conversations
them from the perspective of a cultural anthropologist· Work/Life Balance
as well as a strategy consultant with an MBA in· Titles & Job Descriptions
finance.The easiest way to think of corporate culture· Organizational Structure
is that it is an energy field that determines how people· RelationshipsThe far more powerful aspects of
think, act, and view the world around them. I oftencorporate culture are invisible. The cultural core is
compare culture to electricity. Culture is powerful andcomposed of the beliefs, values, standards, paradigms,
invisible and its effects are far reaching. Culture is anworldviews, moods, internal conversations, and private
energy force that becomes woven through theconversations of the people that are part of the group.
thinking, behavior, and identity of those within theThis is the foundation for all actions and decisions
group.Corporate culture is created naturally andwithin a team, department, or organization.Core Layer
automatically. Every time people come together with aof Corporate Culture: Invisible Manifestations·
shared purpose, culture is created. This group ofValues
people could be a family, neighborhood, project team,· Private Conversations (with self or confidants)
or company. Culture is automatically created out of the· Invisible Rules
combined thoughts, energies, and attitudes of the· Attitudes
people in the group.I have worked with entrepreneurs· Beliefs
and venture capitalists involved in the start-up of· Worldviews
technology companies. They want to work on the· Moods and Emotions
corporate culture once the company is profitable or "in· Unconscious Interpretations
the black". It is much more difficult to change the· Standards
corporate culture once it has emerged than to· Paradigms
proactively create the corporate culture they want· AssumptionsBusiness leaders often assume
from the start.The corporate culture energy fieldthat their company's vision, values, and strategic
determines a company's dress code, workpriorities are synonymous with their company's culture.
environment, work hours, rules for getting ahead andUnfortunately, too often, the vision, values, and strategic
getting promoted, how the business world is viewed,priorities may only be words hanging on a plaque on
what is valued, who is valued, and much more.Everythe wall.Corporate culture is actually the container for
company or organizations has numerous corporatethe vision, mission and values. It is not synonymous with
cultures. For example, the marketing department andthem. In a thriving profitable company, employees will
the engineering department may have very differentembody the values, vision, and strategic priorities of
corporate cultures which are both influenced by thetheir company.What creates this embodiment (or lack
overall organizational corporate culture. Many timesof embodiment) is the corporate culture energy field
these two sub-cultures clash.Culture shows up in boththat permeates the employees' psyches, bodies,
visible and invisible ways. Some expressions ofconversations, and actions.
corporate culture are easy to observe. You can seeCompanies need a good definition of corporate
the dress code, work environment, perks, and titles in aculture before they can begin to understand how to
company. This is the surface layer of culture. Thesechange the corporate culture.Find out how to shift your
are only some of the visible manifestations of acorporate culture to increase profits and retain
culture.Surface Layer of Corporate Culture: Visibleemployees. Visit for free articles and white papers on
Expressions·Dress Codecorporate culture.