FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPANY CULTURE — BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED

Everyone wants to improve their company culture. Culture has become the ultimate buzzword these days. Leaders also seem to talk about it all the time. Let’s look past the buzz and grasp the roots of organizational culture. If we want to influence our company culture, we have to start with a keen understanding of what culture actually is.

What Is Company Culture?

Culture is the thing we cannot necessarily touch and feel — it is the invisible binds and unspoken rules that enforce “how people do things around here.” However, this definition can be insufficient at times. “The way we do things” feels awfully vague and amorphous, especially when it comes to thinking about how to intentionally create a company culture we’re proud of. As a result, our attempts to influence culture get muddled. We conflate culture with surface-level relics, confusing culture with “Things To Make People Feel Good.” - ping pong tables, happy hours and free lunches. Sure, those are part of “the way we do things” — but it doesn’t explain why we are doing those things. Culture includes that why.

Measuring Company Culture

We can’t. And we don’t want to. Culture isn’t meant to be measured. Why? Because culture, technically defined, is the artefacts, espoused values and beliefs, and basic underlying assumptions that people have. And that can’t be measured quantitatively. Measuring/ quantifying it may erode the point of culture. Culture is an organization’s compass for behaviour. It’s what people use to decide what actions are acceptable, and what are not. For example, at some places it may guide people to publicly report a mistake. At other places, it nudges people to brush a similar mistake under the rug.

Measuring culture is like saying we want to measure a compass. We can pick it up and say, “Hmm, let me rate the shininess of this compass, or weigh how heavy it is.” But, really, what we care about is if the compass points us to where we want to go. Measuring the compass itself doesn’t do you much good. Because if we don’t see culture as a lever that influences what we are trying to accomplish as a team, and instead as the thing itself we are trying to maintain, we lose sight of culture’s power in the first place: Culture helps a group of people get what they want done, done.

As a result, what we can measure are the outputs of culture. The observable behaviors and indicators we see as the consequences of our culture. Possibly the most important output to gauge is progress. Studies show how progress, more than anything, influences employee motivation. This means defining what “progress” looks like on a day-to-day basis. Is it the speed by which things are happening? Is it the quality of the work being produced? Is it the number of people we are helping because our work product exists? It could also mean asking questions like how helpful managers are in supporting people to make progress, or how frequently they encounter frustrating obstacles in a given week. Therefore: If we want to measure culture, we need to start with clearly defining what the outputs of a successful, healthy culture looks like in our context.

Levels of culture

Why this matters

More often than not, there is a misalignment between the invisible and visible layers. The things we actually believe, versus the things we say we believe and the things we do to show it.

A Sample Case Study: Perhaps the most glaring case has been Uber. A company that no doubt had visible signs as “proof” that they valued their employees — lavish office parties and state-of-the-art offices. A company that had 14 cultural values it touted, including that employees should “be themselves.” And yet the basic underlying assumption persisted: Win at all costs, by any means necessary. We saw this in countless of examples of questionable ethics and sexual harassment issues ignored. At its core, Uber’s culture was rooted in this aggressive, toxic mindset — and that manifested in how they treated their people, regardless of what superficial artifacts or espoused values they trumpeted.

If we are looking to truly shift our company’s culture, we have to zoom in on this bottom most layer: our basic underlying assumptions. What we truly believe — not always what we say or outwardly show — is what drives the company’s culture. Changing the company culture is not about just changing the visible signs. Getting beer taps installed in the kitchens doesn’t make the culture more friendly. Nor does building an onsite gym mean the culture all of sudden cares about employees’ health and well-being. Changing the company culture also is not about just changing the espoused values and beliefs. Saying at all-company meetings, “We believe in honesty and transparency” or writing “We believe in diversity and inclusion” on a website doesn’t automatically make those things true.

Changing company culture is about tapping into the core beliefs of each individual, understanding what their basic underlying assumptions are, and creating an environment where those can be listened to, brought together, and reacted to. If we can understand company culture, we can improve it.

Classification of Culture Types: The Schneider Model

The Schneider cultural model isn’t a new approach but it is relevant today. William Schneider describes culture as the answer of “How we do things around here to succeed?” No one culture type is better than another. They only have strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the type and nature of work, different types of culture may be a better ﬁt. Companies typically have a dominant culture with aspects from other cultures. Different departments or groups may have different cultures. (e.g. development vs. operations), and these differences can lead to conﬂict.

Four Main Types of Culture

The Schneider Model identifies the primary, underlying culture which shapes the organisation. There are 4 main types: - Control - Cultivation - Collaboration – Competence

Control cultures (COMPANY/REALITY oriented) are process-driven; the company’s success depends on data, processes, etc. Many energy, aviation and defence companies have control cultures. Control cultures prize objectivity. Emotions, subjectivity, and ‘soft’ concepts take everyone’s eye off the ball and potentially get the organization in trouble. Empiricism and the systematic examination of externally generated facts are highly valued. Control cultures want no competition – they want to be the only players in town. Control cultures are command-and-control/ hierarchical- Leaders manage the work. Examples: The military, Police, Exxon.

Collaboration cultures (PEOPLE/REALITY oriented) – people work together towards a shared goal. The Collaboration culture springs from the household. Relationships are key to getting things accomplished. Google is an example, though it also has cultivation culture elements. The way to success is to put a collection of people together, to build these people into a team, to create their positive touching relationship with one another and to trust them with fully applying one another as resources. Status and rank take a back seat.

Cultivation Cultures (PEOPLE/POSSIBILITY oriented) are often cantered around a greater mission. Cultivation Culture is about learning and growing with a sense of purpose. Examples include religious organizations, non-proﬁts, social impact organizations. Leaders remove obstacles that impede attaining the company’s mission. Example – Zappos.

Competence Cultures (COMPANY/POSSIBILITY oriented) are innovative (possibility) and utilize the best talent to bring ideas to bear. Examples: Deloitte, Apple. In a competence culture, being superior or the best is chief. This can mean having the best product, service, process or technology in the marketplace. This culture gains its uniqueness by combining possibility with rationalism. What might be and the logic for getting there are what count.

Fundamental values are knowledge and information. Formalities and emotional considerations are not important compared to proven accomplishment.

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khalid-albeshri

3 years ago

Cashflow Problems

See on Scoop.it - Key Performance Indicators

Try this site http://cfocentre.com.au/cashflow for more information on Cashflow Problems. It consequently like this to reveal that having some methods to handle Cashflow Problems is one method of making sure that people’s business continues to survive. It is for sure that, regardless of how effective your settlements with suppliers as well as customers are, some poor business practices will certainly always place your cashflow in danger. In the past, poor cashflow administration has actually brought several businesses to a close. Follow us https://indicatorskeyperformance.wordpress.com

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khalid-albeshri

3 years ago

How to select the best Project Management Software

Project Management Software has become a must for all businesses nowadays. Project management entails determining the strategy and acquiring the necessary people and resources to plan, execute, and deliver a project on schedule and within budget. The program has been widely utilized in a variety of industries, including IT, construction, architecture, sales and marketing, surveying, and so on, for efficiently and successfully managing projects. However, it is important for you to have a clear understanding on how to pick the best project portfolio management software.

Why do you need a project management tool?

The project team, which consists of the project manager and team members, is involved in the management process. To increase efficiency and carry out the entire management process, they employ apps and tools to evaluate, plan, schedule, track, and manage projects. Your organization may use the program to keep projects up to date, stay up to date, and manage data. Just keep in mind that the software can only help the project team succeed; everyone must contribute to each job and to anything else is required. If you work with the improper blueprints, you won’t be able to complete a job effectively.

How to select a project management software

In today’s corporate world, project management has become increasingly important. The finest Project Portfolio Management Software is one that fulfills or matches the project’s needs for completion. These vital functions should be performed by the primary aspects of selecting software:

Priorities for Project Management

It’s helpful to have a better grasp of project management tasks from time to time when reviewing business software. This aids in establishing whether the program is capable of resolving any issues your company may have. Applying existing management techniques to project management software will aid in identifying how the program may be used to solve an issue. Breakdowns of what a project requires can also show how projects and software interact with one another.

Assess Future Project Management Requirements

While it’s tough to forecast how software will evolve over time, it is feasible to comprehend the program’s adaptability. A company’s ability to grow is aided by adaptable software. Simple-to-use software may or may not be able to adapt to a company’s changing demands as it expands. The more adaptable the software, the more alternatives a corporation will have to deal with a variety of scenarios. Without degrading current projects, a successful Project Management solution accepts change and meets changing business expectations.

Accounting Software Integration

A project management software’s capacity to synchronize company data with other software is a critical component. Because a firm may be utilizing an existing application and would like it to be synced to their preferred software, a program that can combine other software systems to function together is much better. In fact, choosing software that can interface with other programs can save money by reducing data setup time.

Relationship between the software provider and the customer

Both the software vendor and the client must build a mutually helpful relationship. When choosing project management software, it’s important to evaluate the software vendor’s responsiveness and competence, as well as its support for the purpose of serving. The organization or corporation should also note how keen the vendor and support are to assist when queries or difficulties emerge, as well as how quickly they respond. The seller should take an active role in assisting their customers.

If a corporation is currently utilizing a program and wishes to transfer to a new one, they should figure out how such a transition will be handled and whether such actions will be performed. When a corporation wants to move data from its present program to the chosen software, the changeover might be costly. As a result, such a corporation should assess how much effort is required to migrate to new software.

Now you have a clear understanding on how to select the best Project Management Software. Keep these options in your mind and invest your money on the most perfect tool available out there. Then you can streamline your projects and end up with receiving the best returns coming on your way.

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khalid-albeshri

3 years ago

The technique of recording and keeping track of your business’s financial transactions is known as bookkeeping. Your bookkeepers are required to compile financial resorts based on your company’s activity on a regular basis. These reports indicate your company’s financial situation as well as its performance.

In addition to managing financial records, bookkeeping services include:

1. Tax return preparation

2. Invoicing

3. Keeping track of performance indicators

4. Tidying up financial records

5. Keeping track of accounts owned and receivable

6. Management reporting

A bookkeeper’s job is to deliver accurate, up-to-date financial data to accountants so they can compile annual financial reports and tax filings for your company.

Services that bookkeeper can provide:

1. Data entry

2. Bank reconciliation

3. Accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll

Hiring the best bookkeeping services

You have 3 options: employ a freelancer, hire a bookkeeping firm or adopt a remote bookkeeping solution. Each of them has its own set of advantages and disadvantages which will help you decide which is the best option for you.

Tips on how to hire the best bookkeeping services:

1. Consider experience

2. Ensuring proper education and training

3. Determine technical abilities

4. Consider paying attention to the details

5. Extensive cash flow and credit management experience

6. Planning and preparation of tax

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khalid-albeshri

1 year ago

Personal property valuation

Personal property valuation is necessary for valuing a business for purposes of an Employee Stock Ownership Program and for determining an asking price for a business and for evaluating an offer. Learn more at https://www.poconnor.com/why-is-personal-property-valued/

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khalid-albeshri

2 years ago

Crisis management: how important is social media in a crisis?

Hi,

Welcome to my #2 blog post! I hope you enjoyed my previous post in which I wrote about creating your brand image and identity through social media. :)

This week, we’ll refer to crisis management. Crisis management is a part of public relations and it’s a process of dealing with some emergency situation. An important part of dealing with the crisis is social media.

Actually, when you think about it, many crises occur because organizations/companies don’t respond to the negative reviews and comments that people leave them on their social media accounts. I certainly think that a marketing team of a corporation thinks that it’s not a big deal when someone writes a rude comment about the products and services the corporation provides, so they do nothing regarding that question. And before they realize, they’re a step forward into downfall.

Crisis Management: How Important Is Social Media In A Crisis?

One good example of how to provide a customer service in an emergency is the situation when Sephora handled a crisis with the singer SZA. In April 2019, SZA tweeted that a Sephora employee called the security on her to stop her from stealing. She gained a lot of support, and people started tweeting how Sephora employees are rude and racist. Then, the official Sephora profile on twitter answered SZA’s tweet, and they let her know they are doing everything they can at the moment in order to clear the situation. A month later, Sephora posted on Facebook that all stores will be closed for an hour, because of a training of diversity. Clearly, SZA’s tweet encouraged whole Sephora’s team to do something about the customer’s service, which was, as we can see, terrible.

Sephora handled this situation pretty well, and they did the crucial things everyone needs to do, in order to get out of a crisis:

1. Value the customers’ comment and give them a feedback ASAP,

2. Imply that you’ll fix the situation ASAP;

3. Post about further steps taken in order to improve the customer service and satisfy every individual who comes into the store.

If every brand checked their social media multiple times a day, they would be able to prevent crises. With social media, “The customer is always right” upgraded to a new level. As a customer, if I’m not lazy to criticize a brand, then the brand should not be lazy to respond to me and give me feedback what will they do to improve the things I criticise.

After all, we all just look for some juciy drama on the Internet. And if we can’t find it, we create it ourselves. And companies should be aware of that!

References:

“3 great examples of crisis management on social media” https://prconsultancy.org/3-great-examples-of-crisis-management-on-social-media/

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khalid-albeshri

1 year ago

These are popular applications in real estate industry

Zillow: A widely used platform for buying, selling, and renting properties. It provides a vast database of real estate listings, home values, and neighborhood information.

Realtor.com: Similar to Zillow, Realtor.com is another major platform for real estate listings, property details, and market trends.

Redfin: A real estate brokerage that combines online technology with traditional agent services. It offers a map-based search and provides insights into home values and market trends.

Trulia: Owned by Zillow Group, Trulia focuses on providing information about neighborhoods, schools, and amenities in addition to real estate listings.

LoopNet: A commercial real estate marketplace connecting buyers, sellers, and tenants in the commercial property sector.

Matterport: Known for its 3D virtual tour technology, Matterport enables real estate professionals to create immersive and interactive property walkthroughs.

Dotloop: An online platform for real estate transactions, Dotloop facilitates electronic signatures on documents and collaboration between agents, clients, and other stakeholders.

RentCafe: This platform offers tools for property managers and landlords to manage rental properties, including online rent payments and tenant communication.

DocuSign: Widely used for electronic signatures, DocuSign is a key tool in the real estate industry for streamlining document workflows and transactions.

Buildout: A marketing software for commercial real estate professionals, helping them create and publish property listings and manage their marketing efforts.

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