Organizational Culture Assessment

Download Organizational Culture Assessment Worksheet

Get a practical, fillable worksheet to apply this framework to your own strategic challenges.

Download Free Worksheet

Organizational Culture Assessment

Overview

Organizational Culture Assessment is the systematic evaluation of an organization’s shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and practices. It provides insights into “how things are done around here” and helps leaders understand the gap between current culture and desired culture. This understanding is crucial for successful strategy execution, change management, and organizational performance.

Understanding Organizational Culture

What is Organizational Culture?

Schein’s Three Levels of Culture

┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│        Artifacts                │ Visible structures
│   (What you see and hear)      │ and processes
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│     Espoused Values            │ Strategies, goals,
│    (What we say we value)      │ philosophies
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│    Basic Assumptions           │ Unconscious beliefs,
│   (What we actually believe)   │ perceptions, feelings
└─────────────────────────────────┘

Culture Components

1. Values and Beliefs

  • Core principles
  • Ethical standards
  • Priorities and trade-offs
  • Success definitions

2. Behaviors and Norms

  • Accepted practices
  • Unwritten rules
  • Communication patterns
  • Decision-making styles

3. Symbols and Language

  • Stories and myths
  • Heroes and role models
  • Rituals and ceremonies
  • Jargon and terminology

4. Systems and Structures

  • Organizational design
  • Reward systems
  • Control mechanisms
  • Physical environment

Culture Assessment Frameworks

1. Competing Values Framework (Cameron & Quinn)

Four Culture Types

                 Flexibility & Discretion
                          ↑
    Clan Culture         │         Adhocracy Culture
    (Collaborate)       │         (Create)
    - Family-like       │         - Dynamic
    - Mentoring         │         - Risk-taking
    - Nurturing         │         - Innovation
                        │
Internal Focus ←────────┼────────→ External Focus
                        │
    Hierarchy Culture   │         Market Culture
    (Control)          │         (Compete)
    - Structured       │         - Results-oriented
    - Formal           │         - Achievement
    - Efficiency       │         - Competition
                       ↓
              Stability & Control

OCAI Assessment Tool

Scoring Example:
Current Culture:
- Clan: 35%
- Adhocracy: 15%
- Market: 30%
- Hierarchy: 20%

Preferred Culture:
- Clan: 25%
- Adhocracy: 30%
- Market: 30%
- Hierarchy: 15%

2. Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

Six Dimensions

  1. Power Distance
    Low ←─────────────→ High
    Equality          Hierarchy
    
  2. Individualism vs. Collectivism
    Collectivism ←────→ Individualism
    Group focus       Self focus
    
  3. Masculinity vs. Femininity
    Feminine ←────────→ Masculine
    Cooperation       Competition
    
  4. Uncertainty Avoidance
    Low ←─────────────→ High
    Flexible          Structured
    
  5. Long-term Orientation
    Short-term ←──────→ Long-term
    Quick wins        Persistence
    
  6. Indulgence vs. Restraint
    Restraint ←───────→ Indulgence
    Control           Freedom
    

3. Denison Organizational Culture Model

Four Cultural Traits

External Focus:
├── Adaptability
│   ├── Creating change
│   ├── Customer focus
│   └── Organizational learning
├── Mission
│   ├── Strategic direction
│   ├── Goals & objectives
│   └── Vision

Internal Focus:
├── Involvement
│   ├── Empowerment
│   ├── Team orientation
│   └── Capability development
├── Consistency
│   ├── Core values
│   ├── Agreement
│   └── Coordination

4. Cultural Web (Johnson & Scholes)

Six Elements

          Stories & Symbols
                ↓
    Rituals ← Paradigm → Power
                ↑
        Control Systems
                ↑
        Organizational
          Structure

Assessment Methods

1. Quantitative Methods

Culture Surveys

Survey Design Elements:
- Likert scale questions
- Demographic segmentation
- Anonymous responses
- Statistical analysis
- Benchmarking capability

Sample Questions:
1. "Innovation is encouraged and rewarded"
   Strongly Disagree 1-2-3-4-5 Strongly Agree

2. "Decision-making is transparent"
   Strongly Disagree 1-2-3-4-5 Strongly Agree

Pulse Surveys

Frequency: Monthly/Quarterly
Length: 5-10 questions
Focus: Specific themes
Response rate target: >70%

360-Degree Feedback

Perspectives:
- Self-assessment
- Manager feedback
- Peer feedback
- Direct report feedback
- Cultural behavior focus

2. Qualitative Methods

Focus Groups

Structure:
- 6-10 participants
- Homogeneous groups
- Semi-structured discussion
- 60-90 minutes
- Professional facilitation

Topics:
- Values in practice
- Success stories
- Challenges
- Improvement ideas

In-Depth Interviews

Interview Guide:
1. Background and context
2. Cultural observations
3. Values and behaviors
4. Success factors
5. Barriers and challenges
6. Recommendations

Ethnographic Observation

Observation Areas:
- Meeting dynamics
- Decision processes
- Communication patterns
- Physical workspace
- Informal interactions
- Rituals and routines

3. Mixed Methods

Culture Audit Process

Phase 1: Quantitative Survey
↓
Phase 2: Qualitative Deep Dive
↓
Phase 3: Artifact Analysis
↓
Phase 4: Integration & Insights

Assessment Process

Phase 1: Planning and Preparation

1. Define Objectives

Key Questions:
□ Why assess culture now?
□ What decisions will this inform?
□ Who are the stakeholders?
□ What's the scope?
□ How will results be used?

2. Select Framework and Tools

Decision Criteria:
- Organizational context
- Industry norms
- Assessment goals
- Resource availability
- Timeline constraints

3. Stakeholder Engagement

Engagement Plan:
├── Leadership alignment
├── Communication strategy
├── Union/works council consultation
├── Manager briefing
└── Employee communication

Phase 2: Data Collection

Survey Administration

Best Practices:
- Clear communication of purpose
- Guaranteed anonymity
- Multiple reminders
- Easy access (mobile-friendly)
- Multilingual options
- Adequate time window

Interview/Focus Group Execution

Facilitation Tips:
- Safe environment
- Active listening
- Probing questions
- Balanced participation
- Detailed notes
- Recording (with permission)

Phase 3: Analysis and Interpretation

Quantitative Analysis

Analysis Methods:
- Descriptive statistics
- Segmentation analysis
- Correlation analysis
- Gap analysis
- Benchmarking
- Trend analysis

Qualitative Analysis

Coding Process:
1. Transcribe data
2. Initial coding
3. Theme identification
4. Pattern recognition
5. Quote selection
6. Narrative development

Integration

Triangulation:
Survey Data + Interview Insights + Observations
                    ↓
            Comprehensive View
                    ↓
            Key Findings

Phase 4: Reporting and Action Planning

Culture Assessment Report

Report Structure:
1. Executive Summary
2. Methodology
3. Current Culture Profile
4. Strengths and Assets
5. Gaps and Challenges
6. Subculture Variations
7. Recommendations
8. Action Planning Framework

Visual Reporting

Culture Dashboard:
┌────────────────────────────────────┐
│     Current vs. Desired Culture    │
├────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Innovation    ████████░░ → ████████│
│ Collaboration ██████░░░░ → ████████│
│ Accountability████████░░ → ██████░░│
│ Customer Focus██████░░░░ → ████████│
│ Agility       ████░░░░░░ → ████████│
└────────────────────────────────────┘

Culture Change Planning

Gap Analysis

Culture Gap Assessment:
                Current   Desired   Gap   Priority
Innovation        3.2      4.5     1.3     High
Collaboration     2.8      4.2     1.4     High
Risk-taking       2.5      3.8     1.3     Medium
Customer focus    3.5      4.6     1.1     High
Efficiency        4.1      3.5    -0.6     Low

Change Levers

1. Leadership Behaviors

Actions:
- Role modeling
- Story telling
- Decision-making style
- Communication approach
- Recognition practices

2. Systems and Processes

Areas to Align:
- Performance management
- Recruitment and selection
- Promotion criteria
- Reward systems
- Work processes

3. Structure and Governance

Considerations:
- Organizational design
- Reporting relationships
- Decision rights
- Meeting structures
- Communication channels

4. Symbols and Environment

Elements:
- Physical workspace
- Dress code
- Language and terminology
- Celebrations
- Visual displays

Culture Change Roadmap

Year 1: Foundation
Q1: Assessment and awareness
Q2: Leadership alignment
Q3: Quick wins
Q4: System changes begin

Year 2: Momentum
Q1-Q2: Major initiatives
Q3-Q4: Embed changes

Year 3: Sustainability
Continuous reinforcement
Measurement and adjustment

Measuring Culture Change

Leading Indicators

Behavioral Metrics:
- Meeting effectiveness scores
- Cross-functional collaboration instances
- Innovation submissions
- Employee recognition frequency
- Learning participation rates

Lagging Indicators

Outcome Metrics:
- Employee engagement scores
- Turnover rates
- Customer satisfaction
- Financial performance
- Innovation revenue %

Culture Health Monitor

Monthly Culture Pulse:
┌─────────────┬────────┬────────┬────────┐
│   Metric    │ Target │ Actual │ Trend  │
├─────────────┼────────┼────────┼────────┤
│Engagement   │  80%   │  75%   │   ↑    │
│Innovation   │  50    │  45    │   →    │
│Collaboration│  4.0   │  3.8   │   ↑    │
│Trust        │  85%   │  82%   │   ↑    │
└─────────────┴────────┴────────┴────────┘

Special Considerations

Mergers and Acquisitions

Culture Due Diligence:
├── Pre-merger assessment
├── Cultural compatibility analysis
├── Integration planning
├── Combined culture design
└── Post-merger monitoring

Global Organizations

Multi-Cultural Considerations:
- National culture overlay
- Local adaptations
- Core vs. flex elements
- Language barriers
- Virtual team dynamics

Digital Transformation

Digital Culture Elements:
- Data-driven mindset
- Agile ways of working
- Digital literacy
- Innovation orientation
- Customer centricity

Common Pitfalls

1. Surface-Level Assessment

Focusing only on artifacts without understanding underlying assumptions

2. Leadership Disconnect

Leaders’ perception differs significantly from employee reality

3. One-Size-Fits-All

Ignoring subcultures and departmental variations

4. Analysis Paralysis

Over-analyzing without taking action

5. Change Fatigue

Too many culture initiatives without sustained focus

Best Practices

Assessment Phase

  • Ensure psychological safety
  • Use multiple methods
  • Include all levels
  • Consider timing carefully
  • Communicate purpose clearly

Analysis Phase

  • Look for patterns
  • Validate findings
  • Segment appropriately
  • Compare to strategy
  • Identify root causes

Action Phase

  • Start with leadership
  • Focus on vital few
  • Align all systems
  • Celebrate progress
  • Sustain momentum

Technology and Tools

Assessment Platforms

Categories:
├── Survey Tools
│   ├── Culture Amp
│   ├── Glint
│   └── 15Five
├── Analytics Platforms
│   ├── Workday Peakon
│   ├── Perceptyx
│   └── Willis Towers Watson
└── Specialized Culture Tools
    ├── OCAI Online
    ├── Denison Culture Survey
    └── Human Synergistics

AI and Culture Analytics

Emerging Applications:
- Natural language processing of feedback
- Predictive culture metrics
- Network analysis
- Sentiment tracking
- Behavioral pattern recognition

Case Studies

Microsoft’s Culture Transformation

Starting Point (2014):
- Competitive internal culture
- Siloed operations
- Declining innovation

Transformation Approach:
- Growth mindset adoption
- Collaboration emphasis
- Customer obsession
- Inclusive culture

Results:
- Tripled market cap
- Increased innovation
- Higher employee satisfaction
- Cloud leadership

Zappos Holacracy Experiment

Initiative: Radical culture change
Approach: Self-management system
Challenges:
- Resistance to change
- Clarity issues
- Turnover spike

Lessons:
- Culture change limits
- Importance of readiness
- Need for gradual approach

Evolving Assessment Methods

  1. Real-time Culture Analytics
    • Continuous monitoring
    • AI-powered insights
    • Predictive indicators
  2. Network-Based Assessment
    • Communication patterns
    • Collaboration networks
    • Influence mapping
  3. Integrated Platforms
    • Culture + Performance
    • Holistic view
    • Action integration

Implementation Checklist

Pre-Assessment

  • Define clear objectives
  • Secure leadership commitment
  • Select appropriate framework
  • Plan communication strategy
  • Prepare resources

During Assessment

  • Execute data collection plan
  • Ensure high participation
  • Monitor data quality
  • Address concerns quickly
  • Maintain confidentiality

Post-Assessment

  • Analyze comprehensively
  • Share results transparently
  • Develop action plans
  • Assign accountabilities
  • Establish monitoring system

Conclusion

Organizational Culture Assessment is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of understanding and shaping the invisible forces that drive organizational behavior. Success requires a thoughtful approach combining multiple assessment methods, careful analysis, and sustained action. The insights gained provide the foundation for aligning culture with strategy, enabling change, and ultimately driving superior performance. Organizations that master culture assessment and management gain a sustainable competitive advantage in attracting talent, serving customers, and adapting to change.