Assessing Organizational Culture:

Moving Towards Organizational Change and Renewal Carol Shepstone

Head, Access Services Education Library

Lyn Currie
Head,

Presentation Outline

Why assess organizational culture The U of S Library case study

Our methodology Our results

Conclusions from case study Moving from assessment to change management

Why assess organizational culture?

Defining

organizational culture

a collective understanding, a shared and integrated set or perceptions, memories, values and attitudes that have been learned over time and which determine the expectations of behavior that are taught to new members in their socialization into the organization.

Impact

of culture

Culture gives identity, provides collective commitment, builds social system stability and allows people to make sense of the organization (Sannwald, 2000)

Understanding

culture for organizational change

Context for our research

Search for a Dean of the Library

Leadership needs Current organizational culture of the library

Socialization of new librarians

Appointment of 15 new librarians Impact of organizational culture on work of librarians Facilitating effective work performance and success

Transformation of the U of S Library

Revised standards for tenure and promotion Strategic planning

Applying the Competing Values Framework

Provides:

Theoretical framework for understanding culture Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) - a validated instrument for diagnosing culture Systematic strategy for changing culture

Advantages:

Easy to apply and easy to understand Graphic representation of dominant cultures Identifies subcultures Provides benchmark comparable data

Cameron, Kim S. and Robert Quinn. Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture: Based on the Competing Values Framework. Rev. Ed. Jossey-Bass

U of S Case Study

1. Questionnaire

Demographic data Plotting the current organizational culture profile Plotting the preferred organizational culture Assessing workplace factors that support or impede performance

2. Structured interviews with all pretenured librarians

Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI)

2.1 Dominant Characteristics (Divide 100 points) A. ____________Library A is a very personal place. It is like an extended family. People seem to share a lot of themselves. B. ____________Library B is a very dynamic and entrepreneurial place. People are willing to stick their necks out and take risks. C. ____________Library C is a very formalized and structured place. Policies and procedures generally govern what people do. D._____________Library D is very competitive in orientation. A major concern is with getting the

Our Results

Our results

Challenges in working with a small population 24 of 36 librarians responded 67% response rate

12 of 13 pretenured librarians 12 of 23 tenured librarians

8 of 13 pretenured librarians interviewed

Current organizational profile

Preferred organizational culture

The Existence of Subcultures

current preferred

Cultural congruence
Cultural

attributes on the OCAI:

dominant organizational characteristics Library leadership management of employees organizational glue (what holds the library together) strategic emphasis criteria of success

Conclusions from case study

Moving from assessment to change management

Value

of assessing organizational culture Systematically managing culture change

6 step process (Cameron & Quinn)

Implementing

change at the U of S

Questions ?

lyn.currie@usask.ca carol.shepstone@usask.ca

Mapping leadership change at the U of S

Clan
Value human resources More guidance and direction Feedback and support Recognition Skilled management/supervision Orientation and mentorship Respect and trust Leaders: facilitators / mentors

Adhocracy
Value autonomy Leadership by example Clear research expectations Transparency in decisions and roles Innovation and creativity expectations Professional discourse

Leaders: innovators / visionaries

Hierarchy
Clear decision making Leaders: organizers / coordinators

Market
Leaders: hard drivers /