I used to believe that you could change the culture or…
“I used to believe that you could change the culture or behavior of a company. I still believe it's possible, but it is at least a five to ten year process, if you are successful at all. More recently, I have been attracted to the ideas of the behavioralist, Edgar Schein. Schein has argued that you cannot change the culture of a company, but you can use the culture of a company to create change. It's an interesting approach to overcoming resistance. And if you can change how a company does its work, you might eventually be able to change how its people think.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Changing corporate culture is a long‑term effort; instead, leverage existing culture to drive change and overcome resistance.
In simple terms: Use existing culture to create change over time.
Key Takeaway
Identify cultural strengths to implement transformation.
Themes
culture change
resistance
strategy
leadership
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
business
strategic
When to use this quote
- company restructuring
- team training
- process redesign
- leadership development
- employee engagement
Key Concepts
organizational behavior
change management
Questions to Reflect On
- What cultural assets can you leverage?
- How long will change realistically take?
A Different Perspective
Cultural inertia can stall initiatives.