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What is Business Culture

Do you often wonder why organizations behave a certain way? Or how people in one company seem to have the same values? All of these are embraced by business culture. By definition, it is a blend of myths, rituals, symbols, taboos, and beliefs that a group of people engaging in business naturally develop over time.

Familiarize yourself with business culture here.

Whether expressed in a written mission statement, spoken, or just merely understood, all organizations imbibe their own business culture. This characteristic mirrors the way the company owners and their employees think, act, and feel. For instance, your own business culture may be reflected on your dress code, your meeting structure, or the behavior, practices and traditions you follow.

Types of Business Culture

Since business culture is shaped by a common system, working language, habits, beliefs, values, goals and vision, it sprouted in different types. Here are some types of business culture observed from various people:

  • Role Culture – in this culture, the rule of law has a clear reward and responsibility system. The system provides efficiency, justice, and stability. However, weakness is the stifling of innovation and creativity as well as impersonal operating procedures.
  • Support Culture – employees are valued as a worker and as a person. It is important to have employee harmony in this culture but weakness is possible internal commitment lacking external focus on tasks.
  • Achievement Culture – this rewards results instead of unproductive efforts. Work teams are self-directed while possible weakness is sustaining the enthusiasm and energy over time.
  • Power Culture – the leaders need to be firm as well as generous and fair to loyal followers. Strong leaders are needed here to distribute resources but if badly managed, there’s a risk of political intrigue, personal gain, and rule of fear.

Developing Business Culture

Business culture becomes embedded in the heart and minds of employees when executives publish and articulate the values that provide the pattern on how the employees should behave. Firms with strong culture can achieve higher results since employees can focus on their tasks when they’re happy and contented. For example, meetings are always held every Friday at 10am, business suits are the dress code for men and women, and once a month, lunch is bought by the boss.

If you’re not delighted with your current business culture, you can start to change it now. Look for a tool, ritual, story, or symbol that would bring out the best practices and values for your company. Always remember that continuous growth is a very important part of corporate culture. It requires both the conscious and sub-conscious improvement thinking from everyone. Achieving an effective and nurturing business culture is not that easy, but with sustained effort and teamwork, you can quickly adapt to the change and develop a growing organization.

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