Patterns in Company Culture
There is a really interesting approach to analyze, describe and finally transform company. For all the inspiration on this I have to thank Detego which is a Hamburg based change management consultancy. They adapted a consulting approach based on Beck/Cowan's Spiral Dynamics that they are using with clients.
In very simple words Spiral Dynamics describes the value systems of the different stages of human development from survival and kinship to integrative and holistic thinking patterns that have emerged and are still emerging nowadays. The spiral stands for the chronological evolution from survival up to holistic.
This concept can be a foundation for the transformation on an organizational level. With a specific survey the culture of a company can be measured and linked to the spiral themes. Most likely the outcome will be a mix of different systems on the spiral. The intention should be to move up the spiral to the so called second tier themes Systemic-Integrative and Holistic.
|
Theme |
Value |
Decision Making* |
Education* |
|
TOURQUOISE = Holistic |
Sacrifice self interest to bigger whole |
Blend natural flows, look up/downstream, plan for long range, life gets spoils |
Access to world, blend feelings & tech, bring past to life, maximize brain |
|
YELLOW = Systemic-Integrative |
Live one's potential, no harm to others |
Highly principled, knowledge centered, resolved paradoxes, competent gets spoils |
Becomes self-directed, whole-day package, tuned to interests |
|
GREEN = Communitarian |
Belonging & Harmony |
Reach consensus, all must collaborate, accept any input, communal get spoils |
To explore feelings, shared experiences, social development, learn cooperation |
|
ORANGE = Achievist, prosperity |
Competes for success |
Bottom-line results, test options for best, consult experts, successful win spoils |
Experiments to win, High tech – high status, how to win niches, mentors and guides |
|
BLUE = Purposeful-authoritarian, truth |
Believes in the right way |
Orders from authority, do right – obey rules, adhere to tradition, righteous earn spoils |
Truth from authority, traditional stair steps, moralistic lessons, punishment for errors |
|
RED = Egocentric-exploitive, power |
Conquers and wins |
Tough-one dictates, what gets respect, what feels good now, powerful grab spoils |
Rewards for learning, tough-love tactics, work on respect, controlled freedom |
*from Beck/Cowan, Spiral Dynamics 1996 and 2006, p.332
Let's take a moment and look at Sun's culture from this perspective. I believe we had a strong conviction and belief in our way of being open, doing open source, being an innovation leader, competing against the bigger players in the market, those who lock customers in, etc. (remember the fun that Scott used to make of certain of our competitors during his time as CEO) which is an aspect of BLUE (high sense of purpose, believing in the cause).
That element created a lot of common values, there was a strong element of “standing together”, a strong identification with the company and it's products, teaming up was valued a lot and then we were very consensus oriented which all could characterize the Sun culture having a strong GREEN (communitarian) element.
The Sun culture will soon be merged with the Oracle one. From a global perspective I am really curious to see more holistic patterns appear in our lives, using collective human intelligence to work on large scale problems without sacrificing individuality. I strongly believe that this is what our world needs and it is good to see it is emerging.
Posted at
09:19PM Oct 13, 2009
by Volker Seubert in Human Resources |
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