Traditional Wisdom LO9326

jpomo@gate.net ("jpomo@gate.net")
Wed, 21 Aug 1996 23:09:32 +0000

Replying to LO9313 --

Keith Cowan wrote -

> The distinction I would make is that an organization is composed of
> many systems which interact. The reward system is distinct for the
> hiring system, although a good and public rewards system will attract
> people into the hiring system, for example.
>
> The hiring system can be modified in a month. The changes to any of
> these systems will eventually show up in the culture. But I DO NOT
> believe you can change the culture. You can only influence it by
> changing the systems. If any system gets too far outside the culture,
> it will be ineffective IMHO.

I respectfully disagree that we can't change culture because I have
watched it done using our tools. The major part of the change
required 2-3 years in a unionized organization of 1000 people. It
moved from poor to high quality work, from mistreatment to
considerable respect and TLC for customers, from dishonesty and
hiding problems to honesty and reporting problems, from distrust to
trust of management, from lack of commitment to positive commitment
and many other changes.

I admit that there are so few cases that many of us never get the
chance to view these transformations, but they are possible and
people involved love to see it done. Change is quite straightforward
given the characteristics of people, but it's not an easy road.

Just to add to the discussion, Joan

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joan Pomo The Finest Tools for Managing People
Simonton Associates Based on the book
jpomo@gate.net "How to Unleash the Power of People"

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