How to Measure Whether Your Company Has Actually Changed Its Culture
Clarity, consistency, and simplicity are key
As the old saying goes, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” At some point in every company’s history, management will look into ways to shift the culture. But few know how to effectively measure such a shift.
Most managers have their own sniff test of how things are going. But for good order you do need a consistent method and some sort of framework. Being really clear on what it is you are measuring and for what reason is important for continuing the trust you are building in this work.
The persistent challenge from others as to “how do you measure culture” will be ringing in your ears as you conduct this work. A seemingly straightforward question turns out to require some structured thought. Do you simply measure how people are behaving? Or are you monitoring the degree to which your actions and interventions effect change? Do you need to construct a precise scorecard with financial metrics, or go purely for something qualitative? How often you do measure progress?
And why does it matter so much to spend time thinking about measurement? Apart from the obvious — being clear on your measurement approach is vital to ensure you keep on track, build credibility with others, and…
