Leaders see organizational culture as a powerful ally
According to PwC’s recent global survey of 3,200 workers in more than 40 countries, “strong cultures drive better business outcomes.” In fact, the majority (69%) of senior leaders credit much of their success during the pandemic to culture.
During a year that asked for major changes from companies around the world, more than two-thirds of respondents said that their culture helps change initiatives happen. Similarly, almost 70% who said that their organizations were able to adapt over the past year also reported that their culture has been a source of competitive advantage.
Organizations with a view of culture as a distinction and source of competitive advantage maintain a sense of community better, respond to customer needs better, innovate with a higher degree of success and deliver better business results.
Bhushan Sethi Joint Global Leader for People and Organization at PwC Tweet
For the past 25 years, the Katzenbach Center has been studying the influence of culture on business success. They define culture as “the self-sustaining pattern of behavior that determines how things are done.” This year, they asked 3,200 survey participants to reflect on their experiences in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.
“The results show that, for some, organizational culture was the hero of their pandemic story. By reflecting on lessons learned during the pandemic, business leaders can glean insights that will carry them forward.”