How Does Organizational Culture Develop?

An organizational culture often emerges at the early stages of a corporation's development. The management team involved with a business from the beginning has an opportunity to establish a culture, or set of standards, beliefs, and behaviors, that are acceptable. Subsequently, the personnel who are likely to be hired may be those with the potential to promote an employer's desired behaviors. Of course, an organizational culture can evolve over time with new personnel and management regimes. A culture may take time to develop, but it is incorporated through the consistent example and expectation set forth from the top executives to the staff.

Organizational culture develops across many different aspects of a company's operations, including social behaviors. The social culture may involve the way that employees interact with one another throughout the course of the work day. For instance, there may be a common area that is acceptable for conversation on topics outside of work and a protocol for inviting employees out for a social gathering after hours. This type of culture is largely developed by the employees themselves who set and practice behaviors that are acceptable to one another. As new employees are hired, these individuals either adapt to the standards already in place or informally attempt to introduce a different style.

In many ways, organizational culture is shaped by the experiences of the managing members of a corporation. Often, top managers surround themselves with other key members of a team and rely on those individuals to perform in a way that supports the desired beliefs and goals. This culture could be reflected in anything from whether there are cubicles separating individual work spaces to the office decor. For instance, in one company, it may be acceptable to receive employee submissions for artwork or photographs to place on the walls, while staff members may be less involved in these decisions under a different culture. The details of such a culture might become evident based on the frequency and style in which upper management communicates with other staff members.

It's possible that organizational culture could develop in a highly practical way. Top executives might communicate the behavioral expectations in a formal statement that is adhered to throughout an organization. This declaration, or mission statement, outlines the broad-brush themes pervasive at a company, such as expanding through acquisition or supporting charity work, all of which are designed to help to shape employee participation.