What does a company culture (wikipedia's definition) tell you about their Agility?
When I think of culture and models to describe these very complex human dynamics I think of the song "Hair Styles and Attitudes" by Timbuk 3. In this song they sing of how scientist have categorized our attitudes into 3 basic types (a model of attitudes). This is the Three Stooges model of attitude. I liked this model so much that I created a slide show of my company's people as a prelude to a project retrospective. This project had a clash with the client culture. The project ended, but I'd have to say it didn't end pretty. It did not end in a win-win situation.
Slide show of Hair Styles and Attitudes
Would some coaching from Lysaa Adkins on team conflict have save the contract? Boy, I wish we would have know about it and tried.
Navigating Conflict on Agile Teams: Why Resolving it Won't Work
Michael uses the Schneider Culture Model to describe efforts to transition a culture.
This is a reading guide to the series that explores corporate culture and how that has a direct impact (sometimes very negative) on efforts towards Agile adoption. It is a must-read for anyone that is considering taking their company agile or for coaches and consultants whose trade is based on Agile. The role of Kanban is quite distinct and is discussed throughout.
I just did a refresher course on Crucial Conversations by VitalSmarts.com it was an awesome course. In the course material was this question: "Does your organization have a written cultural rule to be 'candid and transparent,' yet the unwritten rule tends to be 'disclose selectively?'" I'd have to answer that question in the affermitive. VitalSmarts goes on to state: "The question is not whether you have a cultural operating system - it's whether yours is one that advances or impedes continuous improvement."
Here's some good advice from HBR on interviewing the company and it's culture.How to Tell If a Company’s Culture Is Right for You by Rebecca Knight
Have you ever wondered about Santa's ability to know which girls and boys were naughty or nice - but ignoring the bulling of Rudolph within his own deer pen? They say culture is established by the worst behavior the leader is willing to permit - sounds like the toy shop at the North Pole is a caustic culture.
References:
“That’s the Way We Do Things Around Here”: An Overview of Organizational Culture by M. Jason Martin
The Reengineering Alternative: A plan for making your current culture work by William Schneider.
How we do things around here in order to succeed. Agile 2010 conference session by Israel Gat.
How to Find Out If the Company's Culture Is Right for You by Whelan Stone
End of nations: Is there an alternative to countries? Nation states cause some of our biggest problems, from civil war to climate inaction. Science suggests there are better ways to run a planet.
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