Culture First?

Posted: June 29, 2015 by Jaime Stenning

“What comes first, strategy, structure or culture?”

Sounds like a joke or some fancy MBA theory. However, the answer is that culture comes first.

Could it be any other way?

Culture comes first, then structure and systems, while imperative, are second in the pecking order.

Intuitively that makes sense but it is not what most of us actually do.

It is easier to create and show a plan or design and develop a strategy or a structure. You end up with a tangible and measurable thing in your hands. Something to show people as proof of your endeavours.

However, working on culture is far more intangible and harder to pinpoint or describe. Culture is a much harder thing to work on. It is neither science nor art form and almost immeasurable. But we know when we are doing it right. And we know when we are doing it wrong.

Thought for the Day

• How good is your culture?
• How much better could it be?
• What would need to happen to improve it? And what would the impact be on the business (in the short-term and in the long-term)?

Working with award-winning hospitality businesses like Nando’s and Ritz Carlton has taught me so much about how every business can up their game.

Spoiler Alert! A pre-occupation with systems (and putting culture in a poor second place) is simply madness.

Most organisations need to get the culture right. Need help? Read here or pick up the phone.

Robert Craven
01225 851 044
rc@directorscentre.com