TEXT – What Is Company Culture?
A company’s culture makes it different from other organisations. Two key components of company culture are how employees function within the workplace and how the public perceives the organisation. If you’re looking for a new job, it’s important to find a workplace that fits your values.
In this article, we define company culture and provide examples you might encounter in your job search.
What is company culture?
The culture of a company is a set of core values and practices that define an organisation, both inside for employees and outside – as part of its public image. The better-defined a company’s culture is, the more likely they are to attract top talent. Strong company culture helps everyone feel that the work is exciting and purposeful, and that it engages employees, increases productivity and keeps talented people.
Each company is unique in its approach to work and values. There are three common attributes companies often think about when defining and strengthening their company’s culture: performance, autonomy and passion.
Components of company culture
Although company culture is unique to each individual organisation, they all share several elements:
- Missions and values
- Relationship between leadership and employees
- Employee acknowledgment
- Professional development
- Aesthetics and culture
Company culture examples
The traditionalists
Traditionalist companies prefer to stick to hierarchy and professional etiquette. These organisations value normalcy and stress the importance of numerical results. Traditionalist companies will often maintain typical office structures and dress codes. They value a clear division between work and personal life.
The collective
Collective companies are less focused on hierarchy and more focused on encouraging diversity of thought from all of their employees, no matter their job title. Collectives encourage participation from all employees in every aspect of the business and loosen etiquette standards. Collectives may prefer open offices that place individuals from different teams together. They often promote social meetings.
The achievers
The achiever company prioritises competition and elite talent. These companies often look for employees that can provide quality of work and support their status as innovative, success-driven organisations. Achievement-based companies often promote professional development and networking opportunities, and they may recruit employees focused on innovation in the workplace and beyond.
The givers
Giver companies are service-driven, united by a shared purpose in personal development and corporate responsibility. These companies often promote voluntary work for the community. Givers feel most motivated by the effect their work has on the world around them. These types of companies inspire their employees to devote themselves to achieving more than just profit.
Adapted from: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/culture-of-a-company-examples
Let’s talk!
- How would you define the term ‘company culture’ based on the article?
- What are the components of a company culture?
- How much do you care about the idea of company culture?
- What values are maintained well in your organisation and what can be improved?
- Do you perceive your company culture as the traditionalists, collective, achievers or givers? Try to provide examples of particular values / situations.
- Can organisations be of more than one type? If so, which types play together well?
- Which one would you like to be in the most? Why?
- In your opinion, how much can a single person change the culture of a big company?
- Who should be responsible for making sure that employees respect their company culture?
- Should smaller companies (e.g. up to 50 people) have their culture established as well? Try to provide reasons for your answer.
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